1/20/23
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – For the second time this season, the Lackawanna College women's basketball team will travel to New Rochelle, NY to take on the NJCAA Division I Monroe College Mustangs on a Saturday afternoon.
 
The game is set for a 1:00pm ET tip-off inside the spacious Monroe Athletic Complex gymnasium, and will be the first game of a doubleheader, with the men's teams from each school scheduled to follow at 3:00pm ET. There will be a video livestream available via the Monroe College Athletics YouTube Channel, HERE.
 
In their first meeting this season, back on November 5^th, the Falcons fell 78-56 to the Mustangs. Monroe jumped out to a 25-13 lead after one quarter, and used its size and strength down low to cruise past the Falcons to the win. The Mustangs held a 57-42 advantage on the glass, including 20 offensive rebounds, and they outscored Lackawanna 36-14 in the paint. Read the recap HERE.
 
About The Falcons
Lackawanna College (7-5) enters the game after knocking off the Chesapeake Skipjacks 64-55 this past Tuesday at home. The Falcons led wire-to-wire, though things got tight when a double-digit lead was whittled down to one twice in the second half. The Falcons outscored the Skipjacks 19-11 in the fourth, hitting 4-for-4 from the free throw line to help themselves pull away for the win. Three Falcons were in double-figures, led by Gabrielle Jackson's 17 points. Sidney Spence added eleven points, and Nariyah Turner scored ten points and had seven rebounds, while Mahogony Collins put up eight points, nine rebounds, and eight blocks. Read the recap HERE.
 
The Falcons are averaging 64 points per game, and are giving up slightly under 60 points per game through their first 12 contests. The Falcons are hitting around 36% from the field, and are holding opponents to 32% on the year. Lackawanna College has struggled from deep, shooting just 18% from downtown this year. Lackawanna is hitting 65% of its free throws this season, going 136-for-209 on the year. The Falcons hold a +1 rebounding margin so far this season, and have forced an average of 16 turnovers per game this season, while giving the ball up around 16.5 times per game. The Falcons average five blocks per game, defensively, and they average around eight steals per game, while their opponents are up to ten swipes per contest.  
 
The Falcons are balanced, with five players averaging eight points or more per game this season. Last year's second-leading scorer, and 2^nd Team All-Region selection, Gabrielle Jackson (Darby Twp, PA), is first on the team in scoring, averaging 11.2 points per game. Jackson is pulling down 4.4 rebounds per contest, and has 27 total assists, first on the team, while putting up 12 total steals so far this year in ten games. Jackson, back for her third year, is second on the team in field goal percentage (45%) and has made 17 free throws through her ten games. Jackson has scored in double-figures seven times this season, going for a season-best 20 points in the win vs. Morris. Jackson hit a season-high ten shots from the floor, and set a season-high in rebounds (9), while tying season-highs in steals (3) and assists (5). Jackson has scored double-figures in five of her last six games, and had 17 points and six rebounds in the win over Chesapeake earlier this week. Against Monroe this season, Gabby had 18 points on 5-for-13 shooting, and went 7-for-13 from the free throw line in the loss.  
 
Nya Jackson (Harrisburg, PA), a returner from last year, is second on the team, averaging 9.7 points per game. Jackson averages 4.1 rebounds per game, and is second on the team in assists, putting up 26 in eleven games of work. Jackson is shooting 29% from the field, but is 28-for-35 from the free throw line on the season, a team-best 80% average. Jackson has 13 steals in eleven games, tied for second on the team this season. Jackson has scored in double-figures six times this season, scoring her season-best 16 points twice this year, once in the loss to Harcum and then again in the win over Union. In the Harcum game, Nya had six shots from the floor and had five rebounds and three assists. Jackson had 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting with two rebounds and three assists in the win over Union, while also going 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Jackson had seven points on a tough 2-for-11 shooting night against Chesapeake, but was 3-for-3 from the free throw line, and had five rebounds in the win over the Skipjacks. Jackson missed the game against Monroe earlier this season.   
 
Dominique Geiger (Plainfield, NJ) has had a good start to her first season as a Falcon, as she's third on the team in scoring at nine points per game this year. Geiger is hitting 37% of her shots this year, and has hit ten free throws this season. She also has eight makes from downtown, tied for second on the team. Geiger has eleven steals on the season and also has 14 assists this year. She's gone for double-digits in points in four games, including recently against Morris, where she set her season-high with 25 points. Geiger was 11-for-22 from the floor, and hit three three-point shots, while grabbing four rebounds and setting her season-high in steals with three swipes on the evening. Against Chesapeake, Geiger hit a three-point shot and finished with five points and three assists in the win. She had two points in 16 minutes against Monroe earlier this season.
 
Sidney Spence (Bronx, NY) is averaging 8.9 points per game on the year. Spence leads the team in shooting, hitting 47% of her shots this year, and is third on the team in free throw percentage, hitting 69% of her shots from the charity stripe this season, where she is second on the team in makes (22). She's third on the team in rebounds (5.7 per game) and has 12 steals this year. Spence has scored in double-figures seven times this year, all in bench minutes for the Falcons, and had a season-best 19 points in 23 minutes in the win over Jamestown. Spence was 7-for-16 form the field, and went 5-for-7 from the free throw line, while tying her season-high with nine rebounds in the win over the Jayhawks. Spence had eleven points on 5-for-10 shooting, with six rebounds, in the win over Chesapeake this past Tuesday. Against Monroe earlier this season, Spence had four points and three rebounds, as well as two assists.  
 
Cianna Roberts (Brooklyn, NY), who played a majority of bench minutes a year ago, is fifth on the team, averaging 8.3 points per game and pulling down 4.3 rebounds per game, fifth on the squad among players who have played more than eight games this year. Roberts is hitting around 35% of her shots this year, and has been the most accurate of the three-point shooters for the Falcons, going 8-for-37 from deep this year. Roberts leads the Falcons with 16 steals on the year. She's also third on the team with 20 total assists this year. Roberts has scored in double-figures four times this season, including a season-best 17 points in the win over Union in December. Roberts was 7-for-9 from the field, and had five rebounds and two assists to help the Falcons to victory. Against Monroe CC, Roberts had her first double-double as a Falcon, going for 14 points and ten rebounds in the win. Roberts was 5-for-13 from the field, including 2-for-3 from three-point range. Roberts had six points and a rebound in the win over Chesapeake. Against Monroe, she had 12 points and seven rebounds, as well as three assists.  
 
Mahogony Collins (Harrisburg, PA) is up to 5.3 points per game this year, and averages 10.7 rebounds per game, tops on the team. Collins has also denied a team-best 58 shots this year, good for 4.8 blocks per game. That rate has Collins ranked among the best in the country, second in all of the NJCAA Division II players. Collins is now shooting 37% from the field this year, and has 34 offensive rebounds on the year. Collins got her season and career-high in points against Essex, where she scored 18 points and had 13 rebounds, along with six blocks.  She's crossed double-digits in rebounds six times this year, already. Collins set her season-high in rebounding with 21 boards against Monroe College Bronx, and then set her season-high in blocks with eight rejections in the game against Chesapeake. She also had eight points and nine rebounds in the win. Against Monroe earlier this year, Collins had eight boards and five blocks, but was held to just one point.   
 
The newest face in the women's basketball program is Monica Spence, entering her first year in charge of the program. Spence follows in the footsteps of Joya Whittington, who was third all-time in wins as a coach and led the Falcons to several stops in the national tournament. Spence joined as an assistant last season, and was elevated to head coach with Whittington's departure. Spence has spent time as a coach at the youth level, as well as the semi-professional men's basketball level.
 
About the Opponents
The Mustangs (11-9) are coming in off a 77-64 loss against the D2 #1 team in the land, CCBC Essex. Monroe held a 39-31 lead at halftime, and even led by three heading into the fourth quarter, but Monroe hit a rough shooting patch in the fourth, going just 2-for-10 from the floor and committing eight turnovers in the final period, getting outscored 20-4 by the Knights. Monroe held Essex to just 29% shooting for the game, but the Knights had a massive advantage at the free throw line, making 42 visits, and sinking 33 of those attempts. By comparison, Monroe was 7-for-10 from the line for the game. The Mustangs shot 41% from the field, but committed 27 turnovers, and were just 27% from three-point range.
 
So far this season, Monroe is averaging 69 points per game, while giving up around 60 on the year. The Mustangs are shooting 39% from the field, and average about 30% from deep. Meanwhile, Monroe's opponents are shooting around 34% from the field and 24% from three-point range. The Mustangs have a 61.7% free throw percentage this season, going 227-for-368 for the year. Monroe has a +13 rebounding advantage, but averages over 24 turnovers per game. The Mustangs force their opponents into 20 turnovers a game, thanks to a 12 steals-per-game average.
 
The Mustangs are balanced in scoring, with five players averaging seven or more points per game. Olivia Meford is the leading scorer this season for Monroe at 12.2 points per game, and has played in every game, starting all but one. Medford is shooting 45% from the field, second on the team, and is a 32% shooter from downtown. She averages 4.5 rebounds per game, fifth on the team, but leads the Mustangs in total steals (32) and is second in assists (47). Medford has topped double-digits in scoring 14 times this year, scoring a season-best 26 points in an 89-72 win over Raritan back on November 9^th. In that game, she was 10-for-17 from the floor, hitting three three-point shots to help the Mustangs to the win. She's topped 20 points three times this year. She had a season-best ten rebounds in the win over Harford earlier this month, and has twice dished out her season-high of six assists. Against CCBC Essex, she had ten points on 5-for-12 shooting, and pulled down five rebounds in the loss. Against Lackawanna earlier this season, she had 19 points and five rebounds, as well as four steals, shooting an efficient 7-for-11 from the field, and making five free throws.
 
Amiyah Edney-Holmes is second on the team, averaging 8.7 points per game this season. Edney-Holmes is shooting 37% from the field, but leads the squad in three-point shooting, hitting nearly 44% from deep, and also leads the squad in free throw shooting at 91% from the line. She's averaging 3.4 rebounds per game, and is fifth on the team with 26 assists this year. Edney-Holmes has scored in double-figures six times this season, twice scoring her season-high of 14 points, both against Harford CC, coincidentally. Both times, she made five shots from the field. She has twice gotten her season-high of seven rebounds, and set her season-high in assists with four in the win over SUNY Sullivan. In the loss to Essex, she had eleven points on 4-for-10 shooting, hitting three three-point shots. Against Lackawanna earlier this year, Edney-Holmes had five points, two rebounds, and an assist in 17 minutes of action.
 
Naomi Barnwell is averaging 7.9 points per game this season. Barnwell is shooting 34.6% from the field, and is a 66% shooter from the free throw line. Barnwell is averaging 4.4 rebounds per game, and has 30 total assists, third on the team this season. Barnwell has hit for double-figures in scoring seven times this year, and had a run of five games in a row at one point this year. Barnwell scored a season-high 17 points in a win over Westchester back on December 6^th. Barnwell was 8-for-12 in that game, pulling down six rebounds and setting a season-high with four steals. Barnwell had a season-high eight rebounds in a win over Howard CC back in November. Barnwell had seven points, six rebounds, and four assists in the loss to CCBC Essex. Against Lackawanna in the first game of the year, Barnwell had ten points, six boards, and three assists in the win.
 
Aysia Pink is averaging 7.8 points per game this season, and is the team-leader in made three-pointers (37), hitting around 31% from downtown. Pink is a 34% shooter, overall, and averages 56.5% from the free throw line this year. Pink averages three rebounds per game, and has 22 total assists so far this season. She's scored in double-figures six times this season, going for her season-high 25 points against Westchester, where she made a season-best seven three-pointers. She had a season-high eight rebounds in a win over Harford earlier this month. Pink had nine points, on three three-point shots, in the loss to Essex. Against Lackawanna in the first game of the year, Pink was held in check, scoring just three points and securing one rebound in 16 minutes of work.
 
Carlota Gomez-Alonzo is averaging 7.6 points per game this season. Gomez-Alonzo is shooting 32% from the field, and 34.5% from three-point range, while hitting 76% of her free throws, second on the team. She averages four rebounds per game, and had recorded 28 steals, fourth on the team, in just 12 games. She had scored in double-figures four times this year, going for a season-best 16 points in a loss to Putnam Science Academy. She went 8-for-8 from the free throw line in that game, and had eight rebounds and a season-best seven steals. Gomez-Alonso had eleven points and five rebounds in the win against Lackawanna earlier this year. She played in her first game since December 5^th when she came back to action against Essex, but was held scoreless in four minutes of work.
 
Khalia Bryant averages just under seven points per game, and leads the Mustangs with 8.2 rebounds per contest. Bryant is a 45% shooter from the field this season, and a 55% shooter from the free throw line. Bryant has 22 steals on the year. Bryant has four double-doubles on the year, and has scored in double-figures four times this season. Her best game came against Westchester, where she had a season-high 23 points with 13 rebounds, going 9-for-14 from the floor in the win. She set her season-high in rebounds with 17 boards in a win over Monroe CC, where she also had 16 points. Nine times this season, Bryant has had double-digit rebounds. Bryant had four points and ten rebounds against Essex in her last game. Against Lackawanna, Bryant had eight points and ten boards, as well as her season-high of five steals.
 
Sara Carvajal-Caro is averaging 6.5 points per game this season, and is third on the team with five rebounds per contest. Carvajal-Caro is shooting 48% from the floor, best on the squad, and is a 64% free throw shooter. She's scored in double-figures six times this year, and has one double-double on the year. Her best game came against Westchester, where she set season-highs in points (18) and rebounds (13) in the win for the Mustangs, going 9-for-16 from the floor. She had two points and a rebound in just three minutes of action against Essex in her last game. Carvajal-Caro had six points and four rebounds in 22 minutes in the first game against Lackawanna earlier this season.
 
Tanae Arnold only scores 1.9 points per game, but leads the Mustangs with 53 assists on the year. Arnold only shoots around 21% from the field, and is a 65% free throw shooter. She averages two rebounds per game, and has 22 total steals on the year. Arnold hasn't gone for double-figures in scoring this season, with her season-high seven points coming in a win over Monroe CC earlier this month. She set season-highs in rebounds (6) and assists (8) in the win over Westchester back in December. Arnold was scoreless in 18 minutes against Essex, with just one assist on the day. Against Lackawanna earlier this season, she was held scoreless in 17 minutes, putting up four assists and grabbing three rebounds.
 
The head coach for Monroe College is Dana Warner, who spent ten years as an assistant, and eventually associate head coach, with the Monroe College men's team, before being hired as the leader for the women's program ahead of the 2018-2019 season. Warner, as a member of the men's staff, helped the Mustangs to four NJCAA National Tournament appearances, along with four District 3 championships and six Region XV championships. Warner, a former Mustang, also spent time at Slippery Rock and CCNY, winning a PSAC POTW with the former in his lone season and helping the Beavers to a CUNYAC championship at the latter. Warner, after spending time in China teaching basketball ahead of the 2008 Olympics, returned to New York to coach basketball, coaching at The Anderson School in NYC and part-time assisting with the Mustangs. Warner went 20-9 in his first season, getting to the District C Championship in his first year, and then earning an NJCAA National Tournament appearance in the 2019-2020 season with a 19-11 record, before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the season down. Warner, in his fifth year and fourth season, is 64-43 so far as a head coach.  
  
The Match-Up
The game is set for a 1:00pm ET tip-off inside the spacious Monroe Athletic Complex gymnasium in New Rochelle, NY, and will be the first game of a doubleheader, with the men's teams from each school scheduled to follow at 3:00pm ET. There will be a video livestream available via the Monroe College Athletics YouTube Channel, HERE.
 
The next game for the Falcons is a road contest in Region 19 play, when they travel to take on Essex County College on Tuesday, January 24^th in Newark, NJ. That game is set for a 5:00pm ET tip-off, and will be the first game in a doubleheader between the schools, with the men's teams scheduled to follow at 7:00pm ET.  The Falcons defeated Essex earlier this year, 56-51, in Scranton.