BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Nov. 15, 2014) - The Molloy College women's basketball team will open up its 2014-15 campaign with a pair of weekend road contests. The Lions will play on consecutive days as part of the University of Bridgeport Women's Basketball Classic in Bridgeport, Conn. They start against Southern Connecticut State University, which is Head Coach
Kate Lynch's alma mater, today at 11 a.m. The Lions will then follow up with a Sunday matinee, tomorrow at 2 p.m. versus Le Moyne College.
Coach Lynch starts her second season as the Molloy Lions' head coach. In year one, the squad went 14-14 overall. Expected to finish sixth in the East Coast Conference, the Lions have plenty of experience under their belt with a veteran roster, including six seniors and five juniors. Their sole loss is
Kelly Guerriero (13.4 PPG), an All-ECC honorable mention in 2013-14. Senior guard from Staten Island, N.Y., Nicole Aronone (9.7 PPG, 9.1 RPG) is the team's leading returnee in both categories. Junior
Alexia O'Connor (8.2 PPG), and senior
Megan Lonergan (7.4 PPG) are expected to have big contributions to the team this year as well.
Southern Connecticut State University will enter the season with a new head coach in Bert DeSalvo. They finished last season 12-15 and 9-12 in the NE-10. The Owls were selected seventh in the Southeast Division of the preseason poll. The Owls return nine players from last year's squad. SCSU has a pair of players who received NE-10 honors last season. Jackie Beathea, who led the conference in rebounds, was selected to the NE-10 all-conference Third Team, while Taylor McLaughlin garnered All-Rookie team honors. The Lions trail the Owls 3-9 in the all-time series between the squads.
Le Moyne finished 15-13 overall and 10-10 in the Northeast-10 conference last season. The Dolphins are projected to finish third in the NE-10 Southwest division with senior guard Alex Marple (14.6 PPG, 2.0 APG) leading the way. The Lions trail the all-time series with the Dolphins, 1-2.
The Lions start their first five games away from home. They will return to Quealy Gymnasium on December 3 at 6 p.m. when they host St. Thomas Aquinas College.
