Tribunes pull away to defeat Mohawk Valley
Coleman, Bynes lead a second-half surge.
ROCHESTER - Kiki Bynes and Adre'onia Coleman keyed a big second half as the MCC women's basketball team pulled away for a 77-63 victory over Mohawk Valley CC on Monagan Court Thursday evening.
Bynes and Coleman each scored 11 as the Tribunes (4-0) outscored the Hawks 49-35 over the final 20 minutes. Bynes also had six assists in the second half and finished with nine on the game.
Monroe was cold out of the gate, connecting on just 10-of-32 shots in the first half as the two teams battled to a 28-all tie at the break.
Mohawk Valley led by as many as five early in the second half and held a 44-40 lead with 12:27 left to play. Bailey Hixson and Coleman each knocked down a pair of free throws to tie it before Coleman scored on a short jumper to give MCC its first lead of the half.
A block on the other end by Tolulope Ogunrinde led to a transtition opportunity, and Hixson knocked down a 3 to make it 49-44 in favor of the Tribunes.
The Hawks cut the lead back to two on a 3 on their next possession, but Hixson again answered with a trey to restore the five-point lead. The Tribunes then were put at the foul line, where they made 10 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Hixson was 5-of-6 from downtown and scored a team-high 19 points for Monroe. Coleman finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and six steals.
Bynes scored 14 and Tyese Purvis added 12 points and five boards.