OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (Jan. 4, 2017) – The Molloy College women's basketball team picked up their third straight win, defeating New York Institute of Technology by a score of 64-61 in Old Westbury, N.Y. The Lions improved to 11-4 (3-2 ECC) on the season with the win. Graduate student Symone Kelly (Wyandanch, N.Y.) totaled a game-high 21 points in the win, her second 20+ point performance in three games.

Early in the first quarter, the Bears jumped out to a 7-2 lead. A layup from Aliyah McDonald (Hempstead, N.Y.), however, sparked a 12-0 run for Molloy. The quarter ended on a shot by Tiara Place to bring NYIT within five. Kelly posted a third of the Lions' 18 points in the second quarter, including going 4-for-4 from the foul line. The maroon and white maintained their lead and headed into the locker room up 32-21.

The second half opened with a 9-2 run by NYIT to bring the Bears within four, but a three-pointer from McKayla Hernandez (Windermere, Fla.) paired with a layup from Kelly and a pair of foul shots from McDonald quickly put the Lions back up 41-30. The Bears of NYIT kept attacking, once again working the lead to only four points. Five points from Thompson in the final two minutes of the quarter brought the score to 50-41 heading into the final frame.

NYIT rallied to a 12-6 run early in the fourth quarter to set the score at 56-54 with less than four minutes remaining in the contest. Points from McDonald, Ihnacinse Grady (Amityville, N.Y.) and Kelly put the Lions back up by six with 2:15 remaining on the clock. Critical three pointers from Julie Williams (Smithtown, N.Y.) and Margaret Knollmeyer (Hampton, N.H.)cut the deficit to only one point with 66 seconds left to play. A late foul sent Thompson to the line with six seconds left. The graduate student sunk both of her baskets, sealing the 64-61 victory in favor of the Lions.

Kelly's 21 points came after the forward shot 60% (6-of-10) from the field and 90% (9-of-10) from the charity stripe. Thompson and McDonald each tallied 15 points in the contest. McDonald added 11 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season as well as a game-high seven assists.

Molloy returns to Quealy Gymnasium on Saturday (Jan. 7) as they face the University of Bridgeport at 12:00 p.m.