Bronx, New York – The BMCC women's basketball team gave NJCAA Division III No. 11 Monroe-Bronx all they could handle in the first half before a second-half surge from the Express helped them pull away and defeat the Panthers in Region 15 play 79-60 at Monsignor Scanlan Gym in the Bronx. The Panthers fall to 1-3 (1-3 Region XV) with the loss, while the Express improved to 2-2 (2-0 Region XV) with the victory.
Sophomore Emily Kennedy (Brooklyn, New York) spearheaded the Panthers offensive attack with her second straight double-double and her team leading third of the season and ninth of her career with a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds while classmate Brynanh Sledge (Brooklyn, New York) posted a new career-high 15 points, while freshman Jania Simmons (Brooklyn, New York) dished out a team-high three assists and classmate Mariah Wigfall (New York, New York) snagged a career and team-best three steals. Wigfall also posted a career-best with nine points.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair as the Panthers went punch for punch with the No. 11 nationally ranked Express as the first quarter saw five different lead changes and four ties. Both squads would trade the first eight points before the Monroe-Bronx grabbed a three-point lead twice, 7-4, on a pair of free throws by Davian Meyers at the 6:00 mark and a Tymere Moorer layup at 5:34 to make it 9-6.
BMCC scored four straight points to take its second lead since the 8:48 mark of the period on Kennedy's layup to make it 10-9 at 3:56. After three different lead changes and two ties for the next 3:30 the Express would go in front by two twice 15-13 on a pair of free throws Daysiah Smith with 23 seconds left and when Kuari Green went 1-for-2 at the line with 13 seconds left to give them a 16-14 lead after one.
The Express would get their biggest lead of the first half four, 20-16 when Smith went 1-for-2 at the charity stripe at the 8:04 mark. The Panthers responded with the following five points to tie it at 20 on a Wigfall layup at 5:56 and then take a one-point lead 21-20 when Stephany Coward (Queens, New York) connected on one of her two free throws at 4:49. Monroe-Bronx rallied with six of the following eight points with a Smith layup at 3:02 making it 26-23 then BMCC would get within one three more times going into the halftime break first at 2:36, 26-25 on a Sledge layin then on a free throw and layup with 10 seconds left by Kennedy to make it 28-27 and then 30-29 as the buzzer sounded at the end of the second.
Monroe-Bronx got off to a fast start in the third quarter, outscoring BMCC 19-8 for the first 7:51 period to extend their advantage to double digits, 49-37, at 3:11 on a Leanna Morales free throw. The Panthers wouldn't be able to get the deficit under double digits, as the Express would lead after three, 57-44. Then, they grabbed their largest advantage, 22 points, at 4:38 of the fourth quarter on a Moorer layup en route to a 79-60 victory.
The Express had three players in double figures, one with a double-double and one with a triple-double, with Daysiah Smith dropping a game-high 32 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Tymere Moorer hauled down a game-best tied 11 rebounds and snagged a game-high 12 steals while scoring 10 points. Moorer dished out a team-high four assists and swatted away a game-best four shots.
The Panthers will get back to it over the weekend in Region 15 action against Dutchess Community College on Saturday, November 18, at noon in Poughkeepsie, New York against Dutchess Community College. For more information, visit the BMCC Women's Basketball Schedule Page.
Notables –
- Emily Kennedy (Brooklyn, New York) has scored in double figures in 10 of her last 12 games and recorded doubles in three of her four games this season. Five of those six doubles date back to the 2022-23 season. She ranks in the top ten in the country in three statistical categories at fifth in assists and steals per game (5.5) and eighth in the nation in scoring average (21.5). She is also tied 24th nationally in rebounding average (8.8).
- Kennedy is the Panthers top player leading the squad in 12 different categories in points (86), scoring average (21.5), field goals made (23), field goals attempted (53), free throws made (40), free throws attempted (62), rebounds (35), rebounding average (8.8), assists (22), assists per game (5.5), steals (22), and steals per game (5.5).
- Brynanh Sledge (Brooklyn, New York) has recorded double-figure games in the last two contests and is averaging 13 points per game this week during the Panther's two games.
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