Rockville Centre, N.Y. – The Molloy women's basketball clinched a spot in the East Coast Championship Wednesday evening with a 69-45 victory over the Dolphins of Staten Island on Bob Houlihan Court. The Lions improve to 14-14 overall and 7-8 in ECC play, while the Dolphins move to 19-9 overall and 12-3 in league play.
 
How it Happened

• It was an offensive struggle for both sides in the opening three minutes as neither team was able to sink a basket.
• Staten Island broke the scoring draught with the contests first hoop with under seven minutes to go in the first quarter.
• Both squads would shoot 50 percent from the floor over the next 3:30 of action, keeping the contest knotted at eight.
• The teams would trade three-point baskets before senior Janel Moore netted a layup as time expired to give the Lions a 13-11 lead after the first stanza.
• The cardinal and white extended its lead to five, 19-14, following a layup from Moore 2:29 into the second quarter.
• Over the next 3:30 of game time, the road team put together a 9-2 rally to push ahead, 23-21.
• The Lions finished the quarter on a 9-0 run holding the Dolphins without a field goal to head into halftime in front, 30-23.
• Molloy took control of the contest in the third quarter, outscoring Staten Island 18-5 in the stanza. Senior Danielle Hippner led the scoring with eight points, junior Sophia Yearwood tallied six, and senior Samantha Muller collected four.
• As a defensive unit, Molloy held the opponent to one field goal and three foul shots while making three blocks. The Lions took a 20-point lead, 48-28, into the final stanza.
• In the fourth quarter, Molloy maintained its 20-point advantage, got its lead up to as much as 29 and would go on to secure the victory, 69-45.

Top Performances

• Hippner netted a career-high 16 points, tied a career-high 13 rebounds, and denied seven shots.
• Yearwood totaled 14 points, made four three-point shots, and secured six rebounds.
• Muller tallied 11 points, five rebounds, and tied a game-high five steals.
• Freshman Iris Hoffman dished out a game-high six assists off the bench.

Up Next
Molloy wraps up its regular season on senior day Saturday, March 1 against The University of the District of Columbia. Tip-off is set for 12:00 p.m. with a senior day ceremony scheduled for 11:45 a.m.