Rockville Centre, N.Y. – The frosty conditions on Long Island could not stop the heated battle between the Molloy women's basketball team and the Cougars of Caldwell Tuesday evening on Bob Houlihan Court. Four quarters weren't enough, but by the final buzzer the Lions topped the Cougars, 77-71, in the squad's first home contest in over a month.
 
How it Happened

• The Lions opened the first 2:38 with an 8-2 run, with contributions from four different scorers.
• Molloy opened its first quarter lead to as much as nine, 13-4, following a three-point play from senior Janel Moore midway through the stanza.
• Caldwell outscored the Lions for the remainder of the half 10-5 to bring the deficit to four, 18-14, heading into the second quarter.
• Consecutive baskets from the road team to kick off the second stanza knotted the contest at 18.
• The squads would go back and forth through the 4:26 mark to remain tied at 23.
• Molloy would get clean looks in the final minutes of the first half, shooting 80 percent from the floor paced by junior Rosa Rizzitelli who netted five points to give the home team a five-point lead, 33-28, heading into halftime.
• The Cougars took control in the opening 4:10 of the third stanza, rallying to an 13-4 run while shooting three-of-three from three-point range to take a 39-37 lead. The run was sparked by Cougars center Lucy Coogan who netted eight points.
• After the rally was snapped from three consecutive points from senior Danielle Hippner to cut the deficit to one, 41-40, the road team gave itself its cushion back behind a 7-0 rally to stay in front, 48-40, with 3:23 to go in the quarter.
• The cardinal and white wouldn't miss for the remainder of the stanza, but the road team would go blow for blow holding a six-point lead, 55-49, going into the fourth.
• The opening 3:48 of the final quarter of regulation saw the Lions forced five turnovers, hold the Cougars without a field goal, and come within one, 57-56, with 6:12 on the clock.
• After Caldwell netted a field goal, junior Sophia Yearwood and Rizzitelli hit a three-point shot and a layup, respectfully to reclaim the lead, 61-59, with under five minutes to go.
• Back and forth action would reignite with Caldwell sinking a layup to knot the contest at 63, with 54 seconds left.
• The cardinal and white would get one final look for the game winner with time expiring but Moore could not get her jumper to fall, sending the contest to overtime tied at 63.
• Molloy opened the overtime quarter on a 6-0 run, paced by four free throws and a layup from three different members of the Lions to pull ahead, 69-63, with 2:43 remaining.
• Like they did all game, Caldwell would battle back and answer with six consecutive points of its own to bring the contest all square at 69 with 1:19 to play.
• Remaining tied 71 with 47 seconds left, Moore hit a jumper, senior Samantha Muller shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the foul line, and the Lions would not allow another field goal to solidify the victory, 77-71.

Top Performances

• Rizzitelli collected a double-double netting a career-high 22 points to go along with 11 rebounds.
• Yearwood tallied 13 points and four rebounds.
• Muller added 12 points and secured seven rebounds.
• Campo stuffed the stat sheet collecting seven point, six rebounds, and five assists.

Up Next
The Lions return to conference play Friday, January 10 as they welcome in the Daemen University Wildcats to Rockville Centre. Tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m.