Women's Basketball Extends Streak, Enter Top 5 National Rankings

By Rocco Geppi

Rosedale, Md. -- Knights women's basketball defeated Monroe College (Bronx) 100-47 at home on Saturday to win their 36th straight game, dating back to the 2019-2020 season. There was no season last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The NJCAA Division II consecutive wins streak is 39.

With the win, the Knights are now ranked No. 5 in the latest NJCAA Division II poll. It's the first top five ranking in team history. 

"When [Athletic Administrator] Greg Witkop hired me, I told him it would not take long for us to enter the top five," said head coach Mike Seney. "It's all because of the talented student-athletes we've brought in. Being in the national top five is a huge milestone, but not the biggest we want to accomplish." 

The Express (13-4) came into the game as the No. 4 ranked team in NJCAA Division III. 

CCBC Essex (17-0) wasted little time ascerting its will, taking a 22-11 lead after the first quarter. 

Patricia Anumgba (Silver Spring, Md.) had 11 of her game-high 18 points in the first frame.

Anumgba, one of five Knights in double figures, shot 7-15 from the field, with a game-high eight assists and six steals.

Things did not improve for the Express, and the Knights took a 49-20 lead into the break. 

Lyric Swann (Elkridge, Md.) finished just behind Anumgba with 14 points (6-17). She added six assists and two steals. 

Jaelyn Swann (Elkridge, Md.) had 13 points (5-17), nine rebounds and four steals.

Reserve contributions were also key for Essex, as the Knights bench outscored the Express 41-21.

Kendal Haggerty (Frederick, Md.) and Lillian Harris (Westminster, Md.) combined for 22 points off the bench. Haggerty was 4-11 from three and Harris 4-7 from the field and 2-2 from deep.

The Knights defense continued to swarm in the second half, scoring 44 points on 34 forced turnovers in all.

Essex also out rebounded Monroe 54-46 and grabbed 33 of those on defense.

Anasia Staton (Jersey City, N.J.) had a game-high 12 boards and Vanessa Woodfolk (Charlottesville, Va.) finished with nine. 

"Monroe Express is a taleted, gritty group that made us work," Seney said. "We were able to find a groove. They through us off a little bit, but when shots started to fall we got more confident."

New York State of mind

On Friday night, the Knights went on the road and defeated the Monroe College Mustangs 97-33.

Anumgba led all scorers with a career-high 37 points on 13-17 from the field and 5-7 from behind the arc. She added five rebounds and four steals. 

Lyric Swann was second on the team with 17 points, hitting 6-16 from the floor and added three rebounds.

Staton had a game-high 11 rebounds, 10 on the defensive side. 

Kelly Foster (Rock Hill, S.C.) and Harris came off the bench to score eight points each.

The Knights next game is scheduled for this Friday at Prince George's Community College with a 5 p.m. tipoff.

Visit www.pgccowls.com to view Prince George's spectator policy.