Molloy University Athletics

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Nov. 20, 2015) - After opening the season with two opponents from the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, the Molloy College women's basketball team will look to earn at least one if not two wins against the Northeast-10 on the second part of a four-game road trip. First up for the Lions on Friday (Nov. 20) is the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen, an opponent that Molloy has not faced in a quarter-century of women's basketball play in the East Region.

The Lowdown on the Lions
A 1-1 performance last weekend for the Lions led to the awarding of East Coast Conference Player of the Week to senior forward Ally Leftridge (Melville, N.Y.), who averaged 27.5 points per game through the two contests. Leftridge had 23 points in the Lions' 68-60 win over Bloomfield last Friday (Nov. 13) and scored a career-best 32 points versus Wilmington (Del.) in a 77-74 overtime loss on Saturday (Nov. 14). The senior has hit 58% (21-36) of her field goals, including an 8-for-11 marker from beyond the three-point line so far this season. Helping Leftridge so far this season has been fellow seniors Kimani Jackson (Dix Hills, N.Y.) and Alexia O'Connor (Centerport, N.Y.), who are both averaging over 10 points per contest. Jackson is shooting 48% (11-23) from the field while pulling down seven rebounds per game; O'Connor's averages (13.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG) are buoyed by her 4-for-8 performance from beyond the three-point arc so far.

It's All About Intangibles
Molloy may be outshooting opponents through two games in the 2015-16 campaign, but the Lions are also leading in the rebounding category by averaging 41.5 rebounds per contest. The plus-2.5 rebounding margin that the maroon and white currently hold is a solid standing when you consider the fact that the Lions' tallest starter is Jackson at five-foot-ten. That said, there are areas for improvement for Molloy, namely free throw shooting and basketball possession. The Lions are shooting just 65% (28-43) from the foul line and are minus-four in the turnover battle, committing 21.5 turnovers per game and taking the ball away 17.5 times in a given contest.

Ihnacinse Is More Powerful Than Experience
The above is not just a paraphrased quote from Academy Award-winning director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu ("Birdman") but a true statement about the play so far of freshman point guard Ihnacinse Grady (Amityville, N.Y.). The first-year player has not been intimidated about being in the starting rotation and rewarded the coaches' confidence in her with a stellar showcase against Wilmington on Nov. 14. Grady had six points, eight steals, five assists and four rebounds in 43 minutes played and continues to excel in practices as a powerful option in the backcourt for the maroon and white.

Scrutinizing Southern New Hampshire
The Penmen are off to a fine start in 2015-16, going 3-0 for the first time since 2012-13 for Head Coach Karen Pinkos. The wins over Bridgeport and USciences to begin the season were good regional victories, but an NE-10 showdown between Queen City rivals favored SNHU over Saint Anselm in a 74-65 victory for the Penmen on Wednesday (Nov. 18). Junior guard Sara Ryan (Quincy, Mass.) has been the key cog making SNHU go through three games, averaging 14.7 points per game including a team-high 17 against the Hawks. The pleasant surprise for Southern New Hampshire thus far has been freshman forward Kylie Lorenzen (Holliston, Mass.) The six-foot forward is averaging 10.7 points per contest and had her first-career double-double (15 points, 13 rebounds) in the win over Saint A's.

Take A Sweater Outside the Three-Point Line
Unilke Molloy---which broke a program record with a 71% (10-14) outing from behind the three-point line against Bloomfield last Friday---Southern New Hampshire has not shown a confident predication to hit jumpers from long range. The Penmen are shooting 28% (10-36) from deep range, but are even better when it comes to defending the downtown region as opponents are just 12-for-68 (18%) from three-point territory. Regardless, it could be a long night if it turns into a contest of trifectas.

Dust Off The Archives
The last time that Southern New Hampshire and Molloy faced each other in a women's basketball game was January 8, 1990. Putting that into perspective, the Penmen and the Lions' rivarly goes back to a time when George H.W. Bush was President, the Cold War was nearing its end, Driving Miss Daisy was to be awarded the Oscar for Best Picture and the San Francisco 49ers were to win the Super Bowl by a lopsided 55-10 score over the Denver Broncos on Jan. 28. That said, the Super Bowl score was still not as one-sided as the battle between SNHU and Molloy as the Penmen came out on top of a 107-55 victory.