Monroe University Express women’s basketball is currently undefeated in NJCAA Region 15 action and is ranked sixth in the country — social media posts proclaim the team’s winning record, 12-1 thus far this season. Head coach Damel Ling, said the winning is great, but he also appreciates the environment Monroe provides the student-athletes, balancing academics and athletics.
“We provide the platform for them to develop their skills on and off the floor,” said Ling, noting that he recruits players with ambitions in both areas. “I tell everyone when I recruit them that I’m tough and I’m going to be demanding on and off the court. I want players who are committed — somebody who’s willing to work.”
Ling has been coaching for 27 years — this is his third season with Monroe Express — and said this is probably the most connected group he’s ever had. “The fact that they genuinely like each other off the floor has helped them go really hard on the floor,” he said.
The team’s top two scorers are sophomore guards Beverly Williams from the Bronx, who’s averaging 20.5 points per game, and Salimah Williams from Jersey City, averaging 14.8 points per game. “Last year, they had some up and down moments, but they came back much better,” said Ling.
Beverly discovered basketball in third grade and said sports have been an uplifting force in her life. Studying business administration, she chose Monroe because of Ling. “I’ve never had this connection with any other coach before or any coach that was trying to recruit me,” she said. The Knicks are her favorite professional sports team. “It’s the energy of New York,” she said.
Salimah, also a business student, said she had to adjust to traveling to different places for games in her freshman year. “It’s helping me for the future,” she said. Now, she’s in a groove and hopes to continue playing with a four-year program next year. Her favorite player is Stephen Curry, and she’s studied video clips of him to improve her shooting.
The team’s spirit is inspired in part by tragedy: Violence handed the team a loss beyond basketball on November 22, when sophomore guard Amira McCleod was struck and killed by gunfire during an off-campus gathering in Long Island. “When you experience something like that, it brings you together,” said Ling. “This is a really resilient, connected group. That has allowed us to work through this together.”