Jasmine Williams Posts Double-Double in Tough Loss to Molloy
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Dec. 7, 2011) – Senior forward Jasmine Williams (Stratford, Conn.) posted a double-double as one of three Mavericks to score in double figures to help the Mercy College women's basketball team hang close with Molloy College for most of the game on Wednesday night, but the Lions pulled away from the Mavericks late in the second half to win, 70-55.
Molloy improves to 5-4 overall (1-0 in the ECC) to move above .500 while Mercy drops to 0-7 (0-1).
Both teams were evenly matched throughout the first half, with neither able to pull too far ahead and Molloy took a three-point lead into the break at 29-26. Mercy fought back after a quick start to the second half by the Lions to tie things up at 42-42, but a pair of three-pointers squashed the run. Mercy tried to claw back into the game as the clock ticked down but could get no closer than four on several occasions, finally caving in as Molloy poured in a slew of points to win by 15.
Mercy could have had nearly a double-digit lead by halftime as the Mavericks outshot the Lions by 14 percent, but Molloy benefited from a whopping 20 trips to the free throw line as opposed to Mercy's six. The Lions flipped the percentages in the second half, shooting 17 percent better from the field and hitting three treys in nine attempts against the Mavericks' 0-8 second-half line from behind the arc. Mercy outrebounded Molloy as well, but turnovers negated the margin, as they fell behind 26-15 in that category.
Williams led the Mavericks with 15 rebounds and notched the double-double with 11 points, while senior forward Talia Beaulieu (Waldorf, Md.) led the squad with a career-high 17 points and grabbed eight boards. Senior point guard Simone Williams (Waldorf, Md.) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 12 points and added six rebounds while dishing out six assists. Junior guard Jessica Biggs (Nanuet, N.Y.) had an impressive game too, as she scored seven points, grabbed seven rebounds and made five steals.
Sophomore center Jessica DeNicola (Massapequa, N.Y.) topped the Lions' squad with a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds and tied for the team lead with three blocks while two-time ECC Honor Roll recipient graduate student guard Amanda Bartlett (Mesa, Ariz.) also poured in 20 and passed for five assists. Junior guard Ashley Addison (East Hanover, N.J.) added 12 points and seven rebounds.
Head Coach Kelli Dunlay and the Mavericks will enjoy a 10-day break as the team prepares for final exams, after which they will travel to the University of Bridgeport (1-7, 0-1) on Saturday, Dec. 17 for a 1:00 p.m. tipoff.
