ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Feb. 14, 2021) – Despite a team-high nine points and 11 rebounds from sophomore Brianna Lee (Elmont, N.Y./Saint Mary's), the Mercy College women's basketball team dropped a 54-43 decision to ECC foe Molloy College on Sunday afternoon at Quealy Gymnasium.

The Mavericks (0-2, 0-2 ECC) have dropped two games in a row, while the Lions (2-1, 2-1 ECC) have won two straight.

Lee also added a block and sophomore Briana Barnard (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) added eight points. Sophomore Jamiela Moore (Baldwin, N.Y./Labette CC) netted seven points and sophomore Katie Wall (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) and freshman Asya Brandon (Hamden, Conn./Hamden) each had six points.

Molloy was led by Gabriella Aspuru who had a game-high 21 points.

Mercy opened the scoring at the 9:12 mark following a Moore jumper. Molloy followed with a 9-0 run to take a 9-2 lead with 5:31 left in the period. The Lions later held a 13-8 lead before Mercy closed the quarter out on a 5-0 run to head into the second quarter tied at 13-13.

The Lions started the second quarter on a 10-0 run to build a 23-13 lead with 6:18 left before halftime. Mercy stormed back on a 6-0 spurt to cut the deficit to four, 23-19, following a Wall three-point play at the 3:41 mark. The hosts increased the lead back to eight but Mercy ended the quarter on a 5-0 run to head into halftime down, 27-24.

A Barnard jumper at the 8:06 mark of the third quarter made it a two-point game, 31-29, in favor of Molloy. Mercy later tied the game up at 36-36 with 2:27 on the clock following a pair of Lee free throws. The Lions scored the final four points of the quarter to take a 40-36 lead after three quarters.

Wall made it 40-37 in favor of the hosts with 8:28 remaining, but the Lions ensued with an 11-2 run to build a 51-39 advantage with 2:01 left to play. Mercy netted four straight points to make it an eight-point game but time ran out on the comeback and Molloy emerged victorious.

Mercy shot 27.1 percent (13-for-48) from the floor, 21.1 percent (4-for-19) from downtown and 72.2 percent (13-for-18) from the foul line. Molloy shot 39.2 percent (20-for-51) from the field, 12.5 percent (1-for-8) from beyond the arc and 68.4 percent (13-for-19) from the charity stripe. Molloy held a 37-31 edge on the glass.

Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Wednesday, February 17th when they play at St. Thomas Aquinas at 6 p.m.