Box Score ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Dec. 20, 2013) - On Friday evening, the Molloy College women's basketball team played as two completely different teams in the first half and the second half of its East Coast Conference contest against Daemen College at Quealy Gymnasium in Rockville Centre, N.Y. In the opening stanza, the Lions shot an incredible 53.8% from the floor (21-for-39), while recording a 55.6% mark from three-point range (5-for-9). Molloy absolutely dominated in the first half, leading at halftime, 48-29. However, the second half was a different story.
Daemen outscored Molloy, 51-32 in the second period, which brought both teams' scoring outputs to 80. In this half of the contest, the Lions were only able to muster a 28.6% shooting clip from field goal range, going 8-for-28. Molloy's free throw shooting also was poor as the Lions only made 14 of their 29 attempts from the charity stripe. Molloy's highwater-mark for the second half was a 23-point advantage with 7:57 left (72-49). The Wildcats then reeled off a 31-8 run over the ensuing seven minutes to tie the score at 80-80. In this second half, the three-pointer was the main offensive weapon for the Wildcats as they sunk 10 of their 22 attempted shots from behind the arc.
In the five-minute overtime, Molloy earned the first three points on a free throw from junior forward
Allison Smith (Blairstown, N.J.) and a jumper from junior guard/forward
Nicole Arnone (Staten Island, N.Y.). Four consecutive free throws from Daemen's Taylor Heinold and Lindsay Stoddard gave the Wildcats an 84-83 lead. With nine seconds left in the overtime period, Molloy sophomore forward
Ally Leftridge (Melville, N.Y.) sunk her first free throw to pull the Lions to within two points (88-86). With not enough time left, Molloy tried a last ditch attempt to find that equalizing bucket by intentionally missing the second foul shot, but the plan didn't work and Daemen went on to complete the remarkable come-from-behind triumph.
For Molloy, Smith and junior forward
Megan Lonergan (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) each scored 15 points to pace the squad, while senior guard
Kelly Guerriero (Floral Park, N.Y.) netted 13. Arnone added 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
For Daemen, Raeann Stilwell had 26 points to lead the game, while Heinold scored 23. Stoddard contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Natalie Galus scored 10 points and grabbed nine boards.
UP NEXT: Head Coach
Kate Lynch and the Lions return to action on Sunday, December 22 when they host East Coast Conference-opponent Roberts Wesleyan College. All the action is set to begin at 12:00 p.m. from Quealy Gymnasium.
TUNE IN: If you can't attend the game, the Lions Sports Network will carry all the action on www.MolloyLions.com. Tune in at 11:45 a.m. for the pre-game show. In addition to the audio and video broadcast, LiveStats will be available.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: @MolloyLions | Facebook: Molloy College Athletics | YouTube: Molloy Lions
