New Haven, Conn. – The Molloy women's basketball team was unable to withstand a late game comeback this afternoon, falling to the Owls of Southern Connecticut State, 68-64, inside James Moore Fieldhouse. The Lions conclude the 2024 calendar year 6-6, while the Owls improve to 10-2.
 
How it Happened

• The opening stanza saw the two squads go back and forth through the first 5:45, clinging to five field goals apiece to stay all square at 13.
• Southern Connecticut ended the first quarter on a mini 5-0 run, putting the Lions behind, 18-13, going into the second quarter.
• The cardinal and white stormed back in the second stanza, rallying to an 11-2 run to take a 24-20 lead with 2:22 remaining in the first half.
• Junior Rosa Rizzitelli netted a jumper as time expired in the second quarter to give Molloy a 26-23 heading into halftime.
• After the home team drained a three-point basket to begin the third quarter, the Lions put together a 6-0 mini rally, capped by senior Samantha Muller who hit a three of her own to open a six-point lead, 32-26, with 8:32 to go in the stanza.
• Back-to-back three balls from senior Janel Moore and junior Sophia Yearwood maintained the lead for the Lions, 38-31, midway through the third.
• Yearwood would continue to stay hot from long range, draining the next two three-point field goals of the contest to push the Molloy lead to double-digits, 44-31, with 3:15 remaining in the quarter.
• The squads would trade baskets to end the quarter with the road team holding a 12-point advantage, 49-37, going into the fourth.
• 1:26 into the final stanza the cardinal and white would open its largest lead of the game, 54-41, following a jumper from Rizzitelli.
• The Owls caught fire over the next four minutes of action, rallying to a 12-0 run and forcing four turnovers to come within one, 54-53, with 4:28 left to play.
• Muller snapped the run with a jumper before the Owls drained five consecutive points in a 45 second span to regain its first lead since the first quarter, 58-56, with under four minutes to go.
• Consecutive baskets from Moore and senior Danielle Hippner reestablished the lead for the Lions, 60-58, with 2:19 left on the scoreboard.
• After Southern Connecticut knotted the game at 60, Yearwood answered with a three-point basket to keep the cardinal and white in front, 63-60, with 1:41 remaining.
• In the final 101 seconds, the home team would force two turnovers, sink a field goal, and shoot six-of-six from the foul line to solidify its come from behind victory, 68-64.

Top Performances

• Yearwood matched a career-high 20 points while shooting 63 percent from three-point distance (5-for-8).
• Moore tallied 13 points and shot five-of-six from the floor.
• Muller and Rizzitelli netted 10 points each with Rizzitelli securing a game-high nine rebounds.
• Hippner stuffed the stat sheet totaling eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and five points.

Up Next
The Lions will begin the 2025 calendar year in Rockville Centre Tuesday, January 7 when they host Caldwell at 5:00 p.m.