Philadelphia, PA. – The Molloy women's basketball kicked off the 2024-25 season at the Conference Challenge Saturday afternoon. The cardinal and white came away with a 76-69 victory over the host Griffins of Chestnut Hill College inside Sorgenti Arena.
 
The victory marks the first in the career of Head Coach Christine Verrelle.
 
How it Happened

• The Lions kicked off the opening six minutes with a 10-4 run with contributions from four of five members in the starting lineup.
• The Griffins finished the opening stanza on a 10-2 run to take a 14-12 lead into the second quarter.
• After the home team netted the opening basket of the stanza, junior Sophia Yearwood drained a three-point shot and senior Janel Moore sank a jumper to reclaim the lead for the Lions, 17-16, with 8:29 left in the first half.
• A mini 7-2 rally from the cardinal and white pushed them ahead by six, 24-18, with under five minutes to go in the second quarter. The run was paced by Yearwood who netted five of the squads seven points.
• After Chestnut Hill cut the lead down to four, 28-24, juniors Casey Campo and Rosa Rizzitelli combined to score the final six points of the half, giving the Lions a 34-28 lead heading into halftime.
• The cardinal and white came out of the locker room red hot clinging to a 10-0 run, capped by senior Samantha Muller who drained a three-point shot to open a 16-point lead, 44-28, midway through the third quarter.
• The two teams traded baskets over the next two minutes of action, with Chestnut Hill cutting the deficit to 14, 47-33.
• Molloy ended the third quarter on a 7-2 run all from the foul line, to take a 19-point advantage, 54-35, into the fourth stanza.
• The Griffins came into the fourth quarter on a mission, putting together an 18-6 run to get them right back into the ballgame, 60-53, with 4:17 to play.
• Over the next three minutes of action, the Lions reclaimed its double-digit lead, 67-57, on the back of five points from Yearwood and a bucket from Muller.
• The home team would cut the deficit to five a pair of times in the final 1:33 of the contest, but late free throw shooting from the Lions would hold off the Griffins comeback and solidify the victory, 76-69. 

Top Performances

• Yearwood netted a game-high 19 points off the bench, while shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point range.
• Moore totaled 16 points and dished out six assists.
• Muller added 13 points and eight rebounds.
• Rizzitelli collected 13 points while shooting a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe.

Up Next
Molloy will play Jefferson Sunday, November 10 in day two of the Conference Challenge hosted by Chestnut Hill. Tip-off from Philadelphia is set for 12:00 p.m.