As the defending NJCAA National Champion Lady Mustangs and defending District III Champion Monroe Mustangs basketball teams prepare for their post-season tournaments, two Monroe players were recognized as the most valuable in Region XV.

Sophomore guard Angela Pace (Greenburgh, NY) was named the Region XV, Division III Player of the Year and sophomore guard Dashaun Williams (Chicago, Ill) was the Region's Division I Co-player of the Year (he shares the award with Ron Robinson of Globe). 

Pace, who was the point guard on last year's Lady Mustang national championship team, averaged 13.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 4.2 spg, and shot 55.1% from the field, which placed her seventh in the nation. 

Williams, a versatile player who has signed a letter of intent to continue his college career at the University of Houston in the fall, averaged 18.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 6.2 apg, and 2.7 spg, and was a 25.1% three-point shooter.

Other Monroe Mustangs who were honored by the Region were sophomore guards Rich Jackson (First-team All-star) and Jonas Ghebremeskel (Second-team All-star).  Lady Mustang All-stars were sophomore forwards Angela Speight (First-team) and Georgia Anderson (Second-team).

The Monroe Mustangs (22-7) will tip-off as the number-two seed in the Region XV Semi-finals on Thursday night at 8:30 against Westchester CC at WCC.  The (24-2) Lady Mustangs will begin their playoff run as the number-one seed in the Region XV Quarter-finals with a 7:00pm game against Queensborough CC at Mt. St. Michael Academy in the Bronx.

The remainder of Monroe's Region XV playoff schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, 2/27 - Women Q-finals            7pm      Mt. St. Michael Academy

Thursday, 3/1 - Men Semifinals              8:30pm  Westchester CC

Saturday, 3/3 - Women Semifinals*        1:30pm Westchester CC

Saturday, 3/3 - Men Finals*                    9pm        Westchester CC

Sunday, 3/4 - Women Finals*                 12pm      Westchester CC

(* assuming Monroe qualifies) 

If the Lady Mustangs advance past the Region tournament, they will qualify for the National Tournament which will be held in Utica, NY on March 15-17.  If the Mustangs advance, they will play in the District III tournament in Maryland on March 10-11, with a potential National Tournament appearance in Hutchinson, Kansas on March 21-24. 

For more information on the Monroe Mustangs or Lady Mustangs, visit www.monroecollege.edu/athletics or contact Gary Axelbank at 646-393-8315, 917-576-0341, or gaxelbank@monroecollge.edu .