Box Score BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Feb. 26, 2014) – The Molloy College women's basketball team dropped an overtime heartbreaker to first-place LIU Post, 64-57 on Wednesday night at the Pratt Recreation Center. With the loss, the Lions fell to 14-12 on the season and 11-8 in the East Coast Conference. The Pioneers improved to 20-5 overall and 17-2 in the league.
Unlike the teams' first meeting back in January, Molloy controlled much of the first half. After several lead changes, the Lions went up by one on a made layup by sophomore forward Ally Leftridge (Melville, N.Y.) at the 6:52 mark. The basket sparked a 9-1 run for Molloy, which closed out the half up two. Junior forward Megan Lonergan (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) contributed eight points in the first stanza.
Senior guard Kelly Guerriero (Floral Park, N.Y.) started the second half strong, hitting a three and a jumper within the first minute of play. A layup by sophomore guard Alex Hampton (Baldwin, N.Y.) put the Lions up seven at the 16:10 mark. However, the Pioneers came storming back, scoring 14 unanswered points and regaining the lead.
Leftridge shifted the momentum with a layup at the 10:20 mark. She added a jumper less than a minute later, cutting LIU Post's lead to four. The Lions and Pioneers then traded leads for the next eight minutes. A made free throw by LIU Post's Alexis Peters put the Pioneers up two with just 15 seconds left to play. But Molloy junior guard Sabrina Padro (Bronx, N.Y.) tied the game on a made layup with eight seconds to go. LIU Post's Kiki Sears tried, but failed to sink a basket with two seconds left in regulation, and the game headed into overtime.
The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead in overtime and never relinquished it. The Lions hit only one field goal in the extra minutes, and were outscored 14-7. After what was a grueling 40 minutes of play, the Pioneers coasted through overtime and walked away with the 64-57 win.
Both Leftridge and Lonergan led the Lions with 10 points apiece.
Chelsea Williams scored a game-high 24 points for LIU Post and contributed 10 rebounds. Her teammate Peters added 15 points and 11 boards.
UP NEXT: Head Coach Kate Lynch and the Lions take on the New York Institute of Technology in an East Coast Conference-matchup in Old Westbury, N.Y. on Saturday, March 1. Tipoff is scheduled for noon. LiveStats and a video webcast will be available at www.MolloyLions.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: @MolloyLions | Facebook: Molloy College Athletics | YouTube: Molloy Lions
