Rockville Centre, N.Y. – The Molloy women's basketball team wrapped up its regular season schedule with a 66-57 victory over the Firebirds of The University of the District of Columbia Saturday afternoon on Bob Houlihan Court. With the victory the Lions improve to 15-14 overall and 8-8 in East Coast Conference play, while the Firebirds move to 10-16 overall and 8-8 in league play. With the victory, the Lions clinch the fifth-seed in the East Coast Conference Championship.
 
Prior to the start of today's contest, the program celebrated its four seniors: Nia Larioa (Business), Janel Moore (Sports Management), Samantha Muller (Nursing), and Danielle Hippner (Accounting).
 
How it Happened

• The Firebirds opened the contest with a 9-2 run while forcing two turnovers in the opening 3:41.
• UDC maintained its seven-lead, 14-7, with 3:27 left in the first quarter.
• Molloy finished the opening stanza on a 8-2 rally and held the Firebirds to one made, but would trail, 16-15, going into the second quarter.
• The two squads remained tight throughout the second quarter, matching one another shot for shot and keeping the contest within one possession.
• The would head into halftime with the visitors ahead, 29-27.
• Just like how the first half went, the third quarter was much of the same as both teams traded baskets in the opening 1:43 to keep the contest tied at 31.
• Four straight free throws from Muller gave Molloy a hair of breathing room, 35-31, with 6:50 left in the third.
• The cardinal and white would keep the Firebirds behind by two possessions, 41-35, following a layup from junior Colleen McCullagh with under four minutes remaining in the third stanza.
• UDC finished the third on a 10-0 rally, shooting 60 percent from the field and causing three turnovers to go into the fourth ahead, 45-41.
• The home team came into the fourth hot, shooting four-of-five from the floor to put together a 8-0 run in the opening three minutes to take a 49-45 lead.
• After UDC came within two, 49-47, after a pair of free throws, Moore started a 5-0 run of herself netting a three-point basket and a layup to put the Lions ahead, 54-47, with 6:06 to go.
• The Firebirds came within four, 54-50, after a layup and a free throw with under five minutes left on the scoreboard.
• The cardinal and white found more breathing room, putting together a small 7-2 rally over the next 2:15 of play to open a nine-point lead, 61-52.
• Molloy would seal the victory in the final two minutes. Muller sank a layup and Moore drilled a three-point basket to put the Lions ahead for good as they would go on and win the contest, 66-57.

Top Performances

• McCullagh tied a game-high 14 points while netting seven field goals and securing nine rebounds.
• Muller totaled 13 points, nine rebounds, and two assists.
• Moore tallied 13 points, a career-high eight rebounds, and four assists.
• Hipper collected a double-double 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds while adding three blocks.
• Junior Rosa Rizzitelli stuffed the stat sheet adding nine points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals.

Up Next
The fifth-seeded Lions will travel to Buffalo to take on the fourth-seeded Saints of D'Youville University Wednesday, March 5. Tip-off is set to begin at 7:00 p.m.