ROCHESTER - A defensive adjustment 6 minutes into play sparked Monroe Community College to a 79-28 victory over visiting Jamestown CC on Tuesday night.
Using a high-pressure, half-court trapping defense, the Tribunes, an NJCAA Division I team, overcame an early 15-6 deficit, using turnovers and easy baskets to put together a 30-0 run over the final 9 minutes of the opening half to balloon its advantage to 23 points, 38-15.
"The difference was the half-court pressure game," JCC coach George Sisson said, "and the Jayhawks' inability to handle that pressure, which led to turnovers and fastbreak points."
By game's end, Monroe had forced 33 turnovers.
The Tribunes quelled any hopes of a JCC comeback, extending their lead to 61-20 behind a 23-5 spree to start the second half.
Monroe improved to 21-5 following the victory while JCC, a Division II squad, fell to 14-12.
The Jayhawks shot just 25 percent from the field and were outrebounded 51-26.
The last time the two squads played the game was similarly lopsided as Monroe handed host JCC an 89-29 defeat on Jan. 29.
Kristin Biela tallied a team-high eight points to go with four rebounds, Alex Smith led with nine boards and Taylor Storer had six points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals.
For the Tribunes, Tyese Purvis scored a game-high 11 points with six rebounds and three steals.
The Jayhawks play again on Saturday at 1 p.m. in a Region 3 Division II game at Alfred State College. JCC must win that game to have a home first-round game on Feb. 27 in the Region 3 Division II Tournament.
JCC (28)
Storer 2 0-0 6, Beaver 1 0-0 2, Sheldon 0 1-2 1, Biela 3 2-2 8, Draggett 1 1-2 3, DePane 1 0-0 2, Kickbush 0 0-0 0, Smith 0 0-0 0, Nickerson 0 0-0 0, Sands 2 2-2 6. Totals 10-39 6-8 28.
MONROE (79)
Acklin 4 0-0 8, Barr 1 0-0 2, Coe 3 2-5 9, Jones 1 1-2 3, Lester 2 1-1 5, McKnight 4 0-0 8, Powell 4 0 -0 8, Purvis 4 3-4 11, Ratliff 3 3-5 10, Robinson 3 1-2 8, Watson 3 1-2 7. Totals 32-77 12-21 79.
Halftime-Monroe 38, JCC 15. 3-point goals-Storer 2, Coe, Robinson, Ratliff. Total fouls-JCC 15, Monroe 13.