CALDWELL, N.J. (Dec. 29, 2016) – Double-doubles from Kamala Thompson (Selden, N.Y.) and Symone Kelly (Wyandanch, N.Y.) pushed Molloy ahead of Caldwell University 81-76. With the win, the Lions improve to 9-4 on the season while the Cougars fell to 10-3.

The contest began with Molloy jumping out to an early 7-4 lead on a three-pointer from sophomore Ihnacinse Grady (Amityville, N.Y.).  Field goals from Aliyah McDonald (Hempstead, N.Y.) and Thompson put the Lions up by nine with 3:58 left in the quarter. Caldwell came within five, but five consecutive points from Thompson put the maroon and white up 20-10 with two minutes remaining. The Cougars finished the opening frame with an eight-point run to come within three points.

Early in the second quarter, a three-pointer from Kristen Drogsler (Middle Village, N.Y.) gave Caldwell their second lead of the contest. Kelly and McDonald each posted layups to put Molloy back on top, but neither team would be able to hold a lead. The contest would become tied five more times in the final seven minutes of the half. With 19 seconds before halftime, Molloy found themselves down two points following free throws from Drogsler. As time quickly trickled down, McDonald put up a layup to tie the contest for a sixth and final time in the quarter.

The back and forth action continued into the second half, as the game was tied two more times in the first three minutes. From there though, neither team would score until the 5:31 mark, where Grady put up a layup to put the Lions up 46-44. Maura Kelty (Barrington, R.I.) nailed a jumper to tie the game once again. Dorgsler followed up with another three-pointer to put Caldwell ahead. The Cougars maintained their lead until a layup from Jessica Kalbfleisch (Ridge, N.Y.) put Molloy ahead 57-56 with 33 seconds in left in the third quarter. The Cougars, however, would head into the final frame up by two following a three-pointer from Kelty.

The final frame opened with a layup from Shantana Kanhoye (South Richmond Hill, N.Y.) on the fast break to send the score to 59-59. The Cougars tried to pull ahead with a lead, but six points from Kelly worked the score back to a 65-65 tie with 6:20 left in the contest. A bucket from McDonald put the maroon and white up by two points, but a three-pointer from Andie Lennon (Secaucus, N.J.) gave Caldwell the one point edge with 4:25 left to play. Grady was sent to the line for two shots at the 3:23 mark. By making the first shot, the sophomore tied the game for the 15^th and final time. The second shot put Molloy up 69-68, a lead they would not relinquish. The game would end with the Lions going on an 11-8 run, eight of which came from the charity stripe.

Molloy received 33 points off the bench in the effort, including a game-high 23 from Kelly. The graduate student earned the double-double, her third of the season, by pulling down 11 boards. Thompson totaled 17 points, going 5-of-13 from the field and 14 rebounds for a double-double of her own. Grady and McDonald finished with 15 and 14 points, respectively for the Lions.

The Lions will send 2016 off with a tilt with No. 12 Bentley University on Saturday (Dec. 31) at 12:00 p.m.