Huge fourth quarter lifts Monroe past Niagara
The Tribunes rally from a big deficit to win conference opener.
SANBORN, New York - The MCC women's basketball team found itself in an unusual position during its 2017 Western New York Athletic Conference opener against Niagara Count Community College Wednesday evening.
The Tribunes trailed for most of the game - including by as many as 19 in the third quarter - before staging a furious rally in the fourth to come away with an 80-75 win over the upstart Thunderwolves.
Niagara led by five at the break and increased the lead during an impressive third quarter. The advantage grew to 19 on a basket with 3:08 remaining, and the T-Wolves led 60-44 heading to the fourth.
The Tribunes took over from there. Led by Shalix Hines and Lanay Rodney, MCC used its full-court pressure and opportunistic offense to outscore Niagara 36-15 over the final 10 minutes.
Rodney finished with a game-high 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field. Hines proved unstoppable down the stretch, penetrating the lane to get to the free throw line and generate easy baskets. The freshman tallied a career-high 20 to go along with four steals.
Sierra Green chipped in with seven, and Jaynelle Robinson added six points and 11 rebounds.