ROCHESTER, N.Y. (Dec. 10, 2016) – After a near-silent first quarter, the Molloy College women's basketball team fell to Roberts Wesleyan College 84-64. The loss drops the Lions' record to 8-3 on the year and brings them to 2-2 in East Coast Conference play. The Redhawks move to 7-4 on the season and are also 2-2 in conference action.
Each team kicked off the contest on a jumper and a three-pointer, tying the score at 5-5 with 7:19 on the clock. From there, however, Roberts Wesleyan erupted to an 18-2 run to end the quarter, with
Symone Kelly (Wyandanch, N.Y.) scoring the only basket for the Lions.
Shantana Kanhoye (South Richmond Hill, N.Y.) ended the run by sinking a three-point shot with 25 seconds left in the opening frame. A layup from Taylor Bynoe (Williamstown, N.J.) ended the quarter with the Redhawks up 25-10.
Roberts extended the lead to 19 points early in the second quarter, but Kelly,
Kamala Thompson (Selden, N.Y.), and
Aliyah McDonald (Hempstead, N.Y.) combined for 18 points to bring the score to 33-28 with 4:33 left in the opening half. A good jumper from
Ihnacinse Grady (Amityville, N.Y.) brought the Lions to within three points. The Redhawks, fueled by a three-pointer by Bynoe and foul shots from Necedah James (Syracuse, N.Y.) went back up by eight points, but Thompson and McDonald quickly responded with field goals of their own to cut the lead in half. A jumper from Sara Nady (Cairo, Egypt) and Lucy Covley (Fairport, N.Y.) sent the teams into the half with Roberts up 43-34.
In the third quarter, Kelly kicked off the scoring, putting up a layup to bring Molloy within seven points. The teams exchanged foul shots and then the Redhawks' offense once again exploded, this time putting up nine unanswered points. Kanhoye would score the next eight points for the maroon and white, taking the score to 57-45 with 2:42 left in the third quarter. A three-pointer from
Kathryn Gibson (Neponsit, N.Y.) cut the lead to nine points, but Bynoe responded just 10 seconds later with a three-pointer of her own. The sophomore would put up a layup to end the quarter's scoring and sent the teams to the final frame with the Lions trailing 62-48.
Thompson and Kelly opened the final quarter with a layup and free throw, respectfully to come within 11 points. Covley and Gibson would blast three-pointers back and forth, and the Redhawks came out ahead 68-54. Emily Miller (Buffalo, N.Y.) added an additional two points, but a layup from Gibson and foul shot from Kelly brought Molloy back within 13. For the next three minutes, the maroon and white attempted to get their offense going to bridge the gap, but the Redhawks held strong. Roberts scored nine points in the final two minutes to earn the 84-64 win.
McDonald and Kelly both earned a double-double for Molloy. McDonald led the scoring, totaling 18 points and bringing down 10 boards; Kelly led the rebounding effort with 14 and added 13 points of her own. Thompson put up 12 points and nabbed three of the team's nine steals, while Kanhoye contributed 11 of the 19 points off the bench for the Lions.
Molloy continues their string of road games on Friday (Dec. 16) as they face Stony Brook University in a Division I/II crossover contest. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at Pritchard Gymnasium.
