SPARKILL, N.Y. (Nov. 13, 2016) - Molloy's women's basketball team improved to 2-0 on the season as they earned a 80-63 win over Wilmington (0-2) in their final game of the St. Thomas Aquinas Tip-Off Classic. The contest opened up with an eight point run by the Lions off field goals from senior Aliyah McDonald (Hempstead, N.Y.) and graduate Jessica Kalbfleisch (Ridge, N.Y.), as well as a three-pointer by sophomore McKayla Hernandez (Windermere, Fla.). The Wildcats got on the board with jumpers from Ebonee Dixon (Baltimore, Md.) and LaShyra Williams (Seaford, Del.). The maroon and white quickly extended the lead with three-pointers from graduate  Kamala Thompson (Selden, N.Y.) and senior Shantana Kanhoye (South Richmond Hill, N.Y.), as well as a layup from freshman Maya Joyner (North Babylon, N.Y.). Kathryn Gibson (Neponsit, N.Y.) ended the opening quarter with a good three-pointer to put the Lions up 25-10.

The Wildcats struck first in the second quarter, as Williams made a jumper in the first 60 seconds, but the next ten points belonged to Molloy. Field goals from Emma Matthews (Smyrna, Del.), Nyree Grant (Chestnut Ridge, N.Y.), Jasmine Lee (Chestertown, Md.), and Dixon cut Molloy's lead to 15 with just under three minutes remaining in the opening half. Five points from Thompson brough the score to 40-22, while another layup from Dixon sent the teams to the locker room with the Lions up 16.

Dixon and Thompson exchanged field goals to open the scoring in the second half. The Lions maintained a double-digit lead until Macy Robinson (Wilmington, Del.), Jocelyn Rodriguez (Wilmington, Del.), and Lee combined for ten points to cut Molloy's lead to 54-50 with 36 seconds remaining in the third quarter. McDonald sunk two free throw attempts to put the Lions up six headed into the final quarter. Rodriguez opened the fourth quarter with two field goals to make it a two point game, but the Lions quickly responded with seven points from McDonald and Gibson. Williams sunk a jump shot to try to swing momentum back to Wilmington, but the offensive prowess of Molloy proved to be too much, as they followed up with a 12 point run. The maroon and white closed the game with five points from Thompson and McDonald in the final 90 seconds.

 The graduate student would lead scoring for the second straight game, totaling 23 points. McDonald, who again played the enitre 40 minutes, earned a double-double onthe effort, posting 22 points while pulling down a career-high15 rebounds. Each guard also contributed two of the team's 11 steals. Hernandez put up four steals of her own in the effort. Four of the five starters for the Wildcats finished with double-digit point totals, led by Robinson with 16 points. Molloy will return to action on Wednesday (Nov. 16) as they face Bloomfield College at 5:00 p.m. The Lions encourage all fans to come to Quealy Gymnasium wearing white in support of the women's basketball team in their home opener.