LATE BURST COMES UP SHORT AS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS TO DOWLING IN ECC SEMIS, 58-56

Box Score vs. Dowling - March 7, 2009

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (Mar. 7, 2009) – Trailing 58-43 with three-plus minutes left in the second half, the Molloy College women’s basketball team recorded a 13-0 streak in a span of 3:08 to cut the deficit to two. But, it was unable to complete the comeback as the Lions fell by a 58-56 final to the Golden Lions of Dowling College in an East Coast Conference Tournament semifinal at the Center for Recreation and Sport in Garden City, N.Y. Molloy went to 21-7 overall in the decision, while Dowling improved to 22-7.

Junior guard E.J. Dreyer (Floral Park, N.Y.) started up the burst with a lay-up. Senior forward Katelyn Dunn (Bethpage, N.Y.) continued with a successful three-point play. Junior guard Lisa Abitante (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had the following six points on a trey and three free throws. Junior guard Tatiana Lopez (Lakeview, N.Y.) closed the run with two free ones. Abitante had the chance to clutch hold of the lead at the three-second juncture with an attempted three-ball, but banged it off of the iron.

Leading 28-22 with 18 and a half minutes to go, the Golden Lions posted a 10-1 spurt during a time of 3:20 to grab a 38-23 advantage with 15:54 remaining. Senior forward Mirna Araujo (Barinitas Barinas, Venezuela) began the streak with a pair of free throws and wrapped it with a lay-up. Graduate guard Christie Marrone (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and senior forward Molly Tubridy (Broad Channel, N.Y.) added a three and lay-up, respectively. Tubridy finished the contest with a game-best 18 points.

Three minutes later, Dowling maintained a 41-27 lead. It then registered a quick 7-0 spurt in a two-minute stint to snatch the largest lead of the game at 48-27 with 10:33 remaining. Junior guard/forward Kasonna Samms (Massapequa, N.Y.) sparked it with two makes from the line. Tubridy followed with a put-back. Senior guard Shanasia Franklin (Uniondale, N.Y.) closed the burst with a three-pointer from the wing.

But, Molloy answered with an 8-0 streak over a span of 1:55 to decrease the shortfall to 50-37 with 8:03 to go. Abitante commenced the run with a trifecta from the top of the key. Dreyer continued by netting one of two at the stripe. Junior forward Kymira Woodberry (Boston, Mass.) closed it out with a jumper off of a feed from Dreyer. From that point, the contest was set for the attempted rally by the Lions.

The Golden Lions kicked off the first half with an 8-2 run. Tubridy accounted for the first four points off of a lay-up and jumper. Araujo wrapped it up with a deuce. Shortly thereafter, they were up 14-11 with 9:50 remaining. Dowling then went on a 9-0 burst to go ahead 23-11 with 7:16 left. Tubridy opened it up with a three. Franklin then tallied the next six points off of a deep ball, free throw and a jumper.

Molloy responded with the next seven points to send the score down to 23-18 with 3:52 to go. Dunn started up the scoring with a three-point play and finished it with a jay. Dreyer contributed a lay-up as the play between. Eventually though, Dowling went into the locker room up eight (28-20) on a three-pointer by Marrone.

The Lions were led by Woodberry, who scored a team-best 13 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Junior guards Clarissa Jones (Boston, Mass.) and Abitante notched 12 points apiece. Jones also pulled down five rebounds and dished out two assists. Dreyer posted nine points, six rebounds, five steals and two assists. Dunn collected eight points, seven rebounds and two steals. Lopez had nine rebounds, two points, one block and one steal.

As for the Golden Lions, Tubridy recorded 18 points (7-15 FG) with five rebounds, three blocks and one steal. Franklin picked up 14 points in 28 minutes off the bench. She also gathered three rebounds and two assists. Marrone checked in with nine points, three rebounds and three steals. Araujo totaled eight points and three rebounds. Senior guard Michele Yawn (Walker, La.) brought down six rebounds. Junior guard/forward Simona Bartkova (Greve, Denmark) got five rebounds, three points, three assists and three steals.

Head Coach Tim O’Hagan and his squad now await word on a possible bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The bracket is scheduled to be released on Sunday evening.