Rockville Centre, N.Y.  (Dec. 13, 2017) – The Molloy women's basketball team defeated the Pace Setters, 48-43, Wednesday evening at Quealy Gymnasium. Junior McKayla Hernandez netted a team-high 15 points, and freshman Gabriella Aspuru tallied a double-double (12 points and 14 rebounds). The Lions improve to 6-4 with the victory.

The maroon and white started the contest on an 11-0 run, led by five points from Hernandez and four points from freshman Marthe Guirand (seven points). Pace (8-3), which didn't score its first field goal until the 5:40 mark of the first, netted the next four points. Molloy increased its lead to 15-6 after sophomore Kathryn Gibson (four points) made a layup, and the home team led 15-7 after the first stanza.

The Setters scored the first five points of the second quarter to cut  the Lions' lead to 15-12. Later in the frame, Hernandez made a pair of free throws to bring the advantage to 21-14. Hernandez then made a three-pointer to put the maroon and white up nine, 25-16. Pace made it 25-20, but Aspuru hit a late triple to increase the lead to 28-20 at the half.

Aspuru started the third quarter with a basket to bring the Molloy advantage to 30-20. The away team outscored the Lions 10-3 for the remained of the quarter to shrink the home team's lead to 33-30.

The Setters scored five straight points to start the fourth quarter to go-ahead 35-33. The Lions went back ahead on two points from Hernandez and freshman Melody Prichard (six points). Pace answered with the next four points to go back up 39-37. Molloy tallied six consecutive points, led by four points from Hernandez, to regain a 43-39 edge. Pace made it 43-41, but the Lions put the game away on its way to a 48-43 win.

Molloy returns to action Saturday, Dec. 16, when it hosts St. Thomas Aquinas. Tip-off with the Spartans is scheduled for noon.