Bridgeport, Conn. – Double-digit point performances from graduate student Kamala Thompson (Selden, N.Y.), senior Aliyah McDonald (Hempstead, N.Y.), sophomore Ihnacinse Grady (Amityville, N.Y.), graduate student Symone Kelly (Wyandanch, N.Y.) and senior Maggie Salomone (Narrangansett, R.I.) led the Molloy women's basketball team over the Spartans of St. Thomas Aquinas 77-75. With the win, the Lions will advance to the East Coast Conference Championship game tomorrow against New York Institute of Technology.
The Lions played from behind early, trailing 18-10 after the first quarter. In the second frame, a layup from Thompson paired with a three-pointer from Salomone brought Molloy within one point, 18-17. The Spartans responded with a 9-2 run to go up 27-19 with six minutes remaining in the first half. With 2:05 on the clock, the maroon and white still trailed by eight points. The Lions closed the half with seven straight points to cut the Spartans' lead to one point, 32-31 at halftime.
The Molloy run continued into the third quarter, as the team took its first lead of the day following made foul shots from Kelly. Halfway through the third frame, the Lions led 42-34. The lead would stretch to as much as 13 points on a layup from Grady. The Spartans closed the quarter with three foul shots to come within 10 as the teams headed into the final quarter.
The Lions and the Spartans would exchange blows through the opening minutes of the fourth quarter until five straight points from Kelly pushed Molloy ahead by 16, 62-46, with just under four minutes on the clock. A three-pointer from Jenna Erickson (Melrose, N.Y.) brought STAC within 13, but the Lions made eight of their final 10 foul shots to keep the Spartans out of striking distance. Salomone hit a three-pointer with 21 seconds on the clock to seal the 75-55 win for Molloy.
Thompson and McDonald each finished with 14 points while Grady and Kelly each posted 13 in the victory. Kelly pulled down a team-leading six rebounds while Grady led with five assists. The maroon and white received 21 points off the bench, led by 11 from Salomone. Molloy shot 52.3 percent from the field while holding the Spartans to just 33.3 percent. Samantha Burden (Westbury, N.Y.) posted a double-double for the Spartans on a game-high 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Tomorrow, Molloy will be making its first appearance in the ECC Finals since winning the championship in the 2009-10 season. Tip-off against #5 New York Institute of Technology is set for 12:00 p.m. from Hubbell Gymnasium in Bridgeport, Conn.
Provided by the Molloy Sports Information Department.
