Box Score ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Jan. 22, 2014) - On Wednesday evening, the Molloy College women's basketball team welcomed LIU Post into Quealy Gymnasium for an East Coast Conference battle. Despite a career-high and team-best 18 points from sophomore guard/forward
Kimani Jackson (Dix Hills, N.Y.), the Lions faltered against the Pioneers, 83-74. Molloy dropped to 8-7 overall and 5-3 in the conference, while LIU Post bettered its record to 11-4 (8-1 ECC).
Although the Lions lost by nine points in the end, the first half was a different story. Over the opening seven minutes of the game, Molloy was only able to muster two points. The Pioneers held a 17-2 advantage with 13:21 remaining. The Lions regrouped and finally got in rhythm, knocking off an 8-2 run to close their deficit to 19-10 four minutes later. The two squads went into the intermission with the Pioneers ahead, 39-27.
If the first half felt like the Lions were climbing an uphill battle, constantly trying to chip past a double-digit deficit, the second half was more of the same. Despite Molloy doubling its field goal completion percentage (48.6% in the second half; 27.0% in the first half) and outscoring its opponent in second half points, 47-44, the first period hole was too deep to dig out of. Seven points was the smallest deficit Molloy was able to get to; for the majority of the stanza, LIU Post held a double-digit lead, including an 18-point highwater mark advantage.
For Molloy, Jackson finished with 18 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore guard
Alexia O'Connor (Centerport, N.Y.) netted 14 points. Sophomore
Ally Leftridge (Melville, N.Y.) had a nice game off the bench, compiling 10 points and eight boards. In addition, O'Connor had four steals.
For the Pioneers, Chelsea Williams scored a game-high 23 points, while Shayna Gatling had 22. Kiki Sears and Alexis Peters contributed 14 and 13, respectively.
UP NEXT: Head Coach
Kate Lynch and the Lions return to the hardwood on Saturday, Jan. 25 when they host ECC-foe NYIT at Quealy Gymnasium. The opening tipoff is slated for 12 p.m.
NYIT QUICK HIT: The Bears are currently 10-5 overall and 6-3 in the conference, a 1/2 game up on Molloy in the league standings.
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
