MISSED FREE THROWS DOOM WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AGAINST C.W. POST, 65-57

Box Score vs. C.W. Post - February 21, 2009

BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Feb. 21, 2009) – The Molloy College women’s basketball team netted just 22 of 43 free throw attempts on Saturday afternoon en route to a 65-57 loss at the Pratt Recreation Center in Brookville, N.Y. With the decision, the Lions dropped their second straight game, and fell to 19-5 on the year. They are also 13-3 in East Coast Conference play. As for the Pioneers, they improved to 11-12 overall and 9-7 in league action.

Tied at 2-2 with under 19 minutes to go in the first half, C.W. Post ran off an 11-2 streak in a span of 3:42 to grab hold of a 13-4 advantage with 15:01 left. Freshman guard Felicia Joyner (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) had eight of the points. Sophomore forward Alyssa Lombardi (New Fairfield, Conn.) posted a jay as well at the 17:06 juncture.

Five minutes later, senior forward Whitney Murrer (Richmond, Va.) and sophomore forward Chantee Hallett (Bronx, N.Y.) netted jays to send the margin to 13 points.

Trailing 30-17 with less than five minutes remaining, Molloy drained two buckets to cut the deficit to nine with 4:11 to go. Junior forward Kymira Woodberry (Boston, Mass.) accounted for the scoring with a jumper and a lay-up. Eventually, the Lions went into the intermission behind by seven (34-27). Junior guard Tatiana Lopez (Lakeview, N.Y.) put up a lay-up before the break with 12 seconds left.

The Pioneers kicked off the second half with a quick 7-1 spurt over a period of 3:11 to take a 41-28 lead with 14:28 left. Junior guard Jasmine Moore (Bronx, N.Y.) tallied the first five points on a three and a jumper. Joyner capped it off with a pair of free throws. Two minutes after, C.W. Post held a 14-point advantage (43-29). Molloy then notched a 13-2 streak during a three-minute stretch to bring the score down to 45-42 in the Pioneers favor.

Lopez got things going with a trifecta from the wing. Senior guard Jenna McLaughlin (Carle Place, N.Y.) wrapped up the burst with a successful three-point play. Junior guard Clarissa Jones (Boston, Mass.) recorded a lay-up as well. Over the ensuing minutes, the Lions forced two turnovers and were able to capitalize as they diminished the shortfall to 47-46 with 7:41 remaining.

Lopez knocked down a jumper and senior forward Katelyn Dunn (Bethpage, N.Y.) served as catalysts in the scoring.

C.W. Post answered with a victory-clinching 9-2 run in a span of 3:01 to go up eight (57-49) with 3:40 to go. Hallett and sophomore center Caitlin Wheeler (Belle Harbor, N.Y.) each drained free throws. Murrer contributed a heartbreaking three-point play at the closing stages of it. From that point, the Lions were able to pull within five but could not complete a comeback.

Woodberry finished with a team-best 13 points for Molloy. She also crashed the glass for nine rebounds. Junior guard E.J. Dreyer (Floral Park, N.Y.) registered 10 rebounds, nine points and two steals. Lopez notched 12 points, three rebounds, three steals and one assist. Jones and junior guard Lisa Abitante (Brooklyn, N.Y.) picked up seven points apiece. Jones also swiped three steals and dished off two assists. McLaughlin chipped in with five points, four steals and three assists.

For C.W. Post, Joyner scored a game-high 20 points (5-12 FG, 8-11 FT). She also brought down four rebounds and passed two assists. Murrer amassed 19 points and nine rebounds. Moore checked in with a double-double after recording 12 points and 11 rebounds. Lombardi gathered eight rebounds and six points. Hallett accumulated seven rebounds and four points. Junior guard Gina Catherall (Bayside, N.Y.) compiled six assists, three steals and two points in 31 minutes of action.

Head Coach Tim O’Hagan and the Lions return to action this Wednesday when they host their Senior Night at Quealy Gymnasium versus ECC foe Queens College. The opening tip is slated for 5 p.m. If you are unable to make it to the game, you can follow all of the progress via Live Stats at http://livestats.prestosports.com or through a video stream at http://www.eccsports.tv.