Rockville Centre, N.Y. - Trailing by eight midway through the final quarter, the women's basketball team finished the game on a 16-4 run to clinch a 69-65 victory over the Saints of D'Youville University this evening from Bob Houlihan Gymnasium. Molloy improved to 5-11 on the season and 3-2 in East Coast Conference play with the win, splitting the season series with the Saints. D'Youville's loss brings them to 7-8 on the season and 4-3 in league play. 

How it Happened

• The first basket of the game would land in favor of the visitors, who scored three three-pointers in the opening five minutes of play to lead 15-7. 
• The lead would increase to as many as 10 points with three minutes left in the frame, but a three-pointer from senior Rosa Rizzitelli and layups from freshman Sharmeela Ugbogbo and senior Colleen McCullagh would cut the deficit in half, 21-16, before the quarter would end. 
• The run continued into the second fame with Rizzitelli hitting back-to-back shots from long distance for the Lions' first lead of the evening. 
• The advantage would be short lived, however, as the Saints responded by scoring the game's next five points, maintaining a lead through the end of the quarter and taking a 40-35 edge into the halftime break.
• Once again trailing by eight after the first five minutes of the third quarter, five points from sophomore Grace Trotta helped to keep the Lions within striking distance. Two layups from McCullagh and one from Rizzitelli knotted the contest at 46 with less than two minutes in the frame. 
• Five points from the Saints pushed them back in front, but McCullagh beat the buzzer to end the quarter with a layup that kept the home team within one possession, 51-48, headed into the final 10 minutes of play. 
• The Lions would outpace D'Youville 21-14 in the final quarter of action, including the 16-4 run of the final five minutes, to walk away with the victory. 

Top Performances

• Possession was the key factor in the victory, with Molloy doubling up D'Youville in both offensive rebounds (14-8) and the turnover battle (8-18).
• Trotta would net a career-high 10 points to go with three rebounds. 
• McCullagh led all scorers with 22 points, pulling down seven rebounds to go with two assists, a block, and a career-high four steals. 
• Rizzitelli sunk five three-pointers on her way to 19 points, seven rebounds, and a team-leading eight assists that matches a career-high. 
• The Lions' top scoring was rounded out by senior Sophia Yearwood at 11 points, going 6-of-6 from the foul line, and adding six rebounds and a career-high six assists. 

Up Next
Molloy is back in action on Sunday (Jan. 18) against 23rd-ranked Daemen University at 12:00 p.m. from Bob Houlihan Cort.