ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Feb. 15, 2017) – The Molloy women's basketball team suffered an overtime loss to the New York Institute of Technology Bears, 74-68, Wednesday evening. The Lions fell to 18-7 (10-5 ECC) while the Bears improve to 15-9 (9-7 ECC). Graduate student Kamala Thompson (Selden, N.Y.) scored a team-high 19 points to go along with eight rebounds. Senior Aliyah McDonald (Hempstead, N.Y.) added 18 points and nine rebounds. Jessica Kalbfleisch (Ridge, N.Y.) pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds in the losing effort. 

The Lions came out of the gate on fire starting the game on a 13-3 run. Three-pointers by Thompson and Ihnacinse Grady (Amityville, N.Y.) helped spark the run. Molloy led 25-13 after the first with Thompson and Grady netting eight points each. The Bears cut into the deficit in the second with a Julie Williams (Smithtown, N.Y.) three, which made it 31-26 with 3:33 left in the first half. Maggie Salomone (Narragansett, R.I.) hit a three for the Lions to make it 36-28 going into the half.

To start the third, McDonald made back to back baskets to bring the lead back up to ten. Consecutive threes by Thompson and Grady increased the lead to 46-37. However, the Bears kept fighting . Another three by Williams and a layup by Margaret Knollmeyer (Hampton, N.H.) cut the lead to 52-49 at the end of the third.

As the fourth quarter started, Kayla Correa (New Rochelle, N.Y.) hit a three to tie the game at 52. On the next possession, Correa nailed a free throw to give NYIT its first lead since the opening basket. The game continued to go back and forth through the fourth quarter. A Kathryn Gibson (Neponsit, N.Y.) jumper with 3:37 remaining brought Molloy back up 58-53. A layup by Williams, who scored 20 points, cut the lead back down to three with two minutes remaining. With 4.2 seconds remaining, Correa nail two free throws to send the game to overtime.

NYIT went on an 8-1 run to start the overtime. A three by Shantana Kanhoye (South Richmond Hill, N.Y.) cut the lead to 71-67 with 1:06 remaining. However, the Lions were unable to complete their comeback, and the Bears went on to win 74-68.

Next up, the Lions travel to take on the Daemen College Wildcats in Amherst, N.Y. on Saturday (Feb. 18) at 1:00 p.m.