Amherst, N.Y. - The women's basketball team concluded the opening weekend of East Coast Conference play with a 78-66 loss at Daemen University this afternoon from Lumsden Gymnasium. Molloy dropped to 2-9 on the season and 0-2 in league play in the loss while Daemen improved to 6-1 (2-0 ECC) in the victory.

How it Happened

•  Midway through the opening quarter, an 8-2 run from the Wildcats gave the home team its first lead of more than three possessions, 16-7. A pair of free throws made it a double digit lead for Daemen.
• Through the final three minutes of the frame, a jumper and free throw from senior Rosa Rizzitelli paired with two foul shots from senior Colleen McCullagh worked to keep the Lions within striking distance, but a jumper from Joline Raposo in the final minute made it 26-14 Wildcats.
• Daemen's lead would increase to as much as 16, 34-18, but layups from McCullagh and Rizzitelli returned it to a 12 point game.
• Headed into the final two minutes of the half, a layup from freshman Sharmeela Ugboggo made it 38-29. 
• Daemen responded with five-straight points before freshman Kaitlyn Paulino Rosario made it 43-30 at the break.
• The home team scored the first five points of the third quarter to increase the lead to 18, 48-30. 
• The Lions put together a 10 point run that saw three points from both Ubogbo and senior Sophia Yearwood to make it an eight-point game midway through the quarter, 50-42. 
• The Wildcats immediately responded with a 10 point run of their own to reestablish a lengthy lead that would carry into the fourth quarter. 
• Molloy would come within 12 twice in the final 10 minutes, including scoring the last six points of the contest, all of which came from the charity stripe, but were unable to catch Daemen.

Top Performances

• McCullagh led all scorers and topped 20 points in her seventh-straight contest. The forward shot 12-of-20 from the field in the effort and also topped the team with eight rebounds while adding two steals and two assists.
• Rizzitelli followed with 13 points and matched the eight rebounds while leading with five assists and three steals. 
• Ugbogbo added seven rebounds and right points. 
• Sophomore Iris Hoffman also nabbed three steals to go with five assists and six rebounds. 

Up Next
Molloy returns to Bob Houlihan Court on Friday (Dec. 12) evening for a tangle with Roberts Wesleyan beginning at 5:00 p.m.