NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The Monroe College women’s basketball team got an early Christmas present in the form of their first home win of the season in the opening game of the Monroe Holiday Tip-Off in New Rochelle on Saturday. The Mustangs defeated Patrick Henry Community College, 63-50.
Gabrielle Jubinville was one of four Monroe players in double-figures, recording a double-double that included game-bests in points (20) and rebounds (12). Camilla Kilinc had 14 points on 4-6 three-pointers, Samantha Hines had a dozen on 4-8 shooting, while Breanna Dennis totaled 11 points and seven rebounds.
The undermanned Mustangs took a 6-2 lead early on with three-pointers from Dennis and Kilinc. The game was tied at 11-11 after the first quarter.
Neither side led by more than three points in the second quarter. Monroe went up 20-17 when Fatoumata Coulibaly made a layup with 3:40 remaining. A Jubinville basket with 0:08 remaining gave Monroe a 27-26 lead at the half.
The Patriots battled back in the third quarter and led 44-42 after 30 minutes of play. The largest lead in the quarter, seven points, came on a Dennis bucket at the 8:36 mark that made the score 35-28. The Dennis layup capped an 8-2 Mustangs run to open the quarter.
A Hines layup barely two minutes into the fourth gave Monroe the lead for good. The game was iced on a three-pointer from Kilinc at the 4:26 mark to make the score 59-48 for the Mustangs. They went on to win 63-50.
The team improved to 4-10 on the season. They return to action on Sunday, December 20, when they host Cecil College at 2:00 PM.