Sparkill, N.Y. – The Molloy women's basketball team did all it could to come from behind, but eventually would fall, 68-67, in overtime to the Spartans of St. Thomas Aquinas Wednesday evening inside Aquinas Hall. The Lions move to 8-8 overall and 2-3 in East Coast Conference play, while the Spartans improved to 4-12 overall and 2-4 in league play.
 
How it Happened

• The first quarter saw the squads go back and forth in the opening 10 minutes with neither team giving much breathing room.
• St. Thomas Aquinas took a one-point lead, 15-14, into the second quarter.
• The home team kicked off the opening 1:25 of the second stanza on a 6-0 run to extend its lead to seven, 21-14.
• Over the next five minutes of action, junior Rosa Rizzitelli netted five of Molloy's next six points to get the Lions within three, 23-20.
• Layups from senior Samantha Muller and junior Colleen McCullagh brought the road team with two, 26-24, with under two minutes left in the first half.
• The Spartans netted a pair of baskets in the final 90 seconds of the second quarter to take a 30-24 lead into halftime.
• After McCullagh began the third quarter with a layup 45 seconds in, the Spartans used a 10-0 run over the next four minutes to open a 40-26 lead.
• Molloy would snap the run following a layup from Rizzitelli, but the Lions would trail, 46-36, heading into the fourth quarter.
• The cardinal and white used a 7-0 run to kick off the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to three, 46-43, with 6:09 left in regulation.
• After the Spartans halted the run with a basket, Muller would hit a layup and two free throws and McCullagh sank a foul shot to bring the contest back to all square at 48 with under four minutes remaining.
• The two squads went back and forth in the final four minutes, but the Lions would get a layup from senior Janel Moore and shoot a perfect six-of-six from the foul line to send the game to overtime tied at 56.
• The free throw battle would ensue in the extra quarter, with both squads netting a pair each to keep the game tied at 58, 45 seconds in.
• The Spartans took a four-point lead, 62-58, with 3:06 left on the clock after two foul shots and a layup.
• The Lions answered with a jumper from Moore and a pair of free throws from Muller to tie the contest once more at 62 with 2:07 to play.
• In the final minute, the home team netted back-to-back lay ups to go up by four, 68-64.
• With 13 seconds remaining on the clock, Rizzitelli netted a layup and converted a free throw for a three-point play to get the Lions within one, 68-67, but the Lions would run out of time and come away just short and fall by one.

Top Performances

• Muller netted a team-high 20 points while shooting eight-of-eight from the charity stripe.
• Rizzitelli tallied 17 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
• McCullagh added 10 points and six rebounds.
• Moore collected eight points, five assists, and four steals. 

Up Next
The Lions return to Rockville Centre Saturday, January 18 for a conference matchup against ECC foe Mercy beginning at 12:00 p.m.