DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Feb. 12, 2022) – Despite four Mavericks scoring in double figures, the Mercy College women's basketball team dropped a 65-56 decision to ECC foe Molloy College on Saturday afternoon at Victory Gymnasium.
The Mavericks (10-12, 8-6 ECC) have dropped six games in a row, while the Lions (13-8, 10-4 ECC) have won six games in a row.
Mercy was led by junior Asha Talib (Allentown, Pa./University of Bridgeport) who had a team-high 13 points with seven rebounds. Junior Kellie Nudd (Colchester, Conn./Bacon Academy) added 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting and junior Katie Wall (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) netted 11 points and four assists. Senior Taysha Bender (Glen Burnie, Md./Archbishop Spalding) recorded 10 points and six rebounds and sophomore Maria Tedesco (Ocean Township, N.J./St. Rose) had a team-high nine rebounds.
Molloy was led by Gabriella Aspuru who had a game-high 27 points.
Mercy jumped out to an 8-5 lead after a Nudd jumper with seven minutes to play in the first quarter. Molloy answered with four straight points to take a 9-8 lead. The Mavericks battled back and took a one-point lead, 17-16, after two Kayla Halvorsen (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./Dobbs Ferry) free throws with 1:21 on the clock. The Lions scored the final five points of the quarter to take a 21-17 lead after one quarter.
A Jaclyn Stanavich (Amsterdam, N.Y./Amsterdam) jumper to open the second quarter cut the Molloy lead to two, 21-19. Bender later got Mercy within one, 25-24, at the 5:01 mark after a layup. The Lions followed with seven straight points to increase the lead to eight, 32-24, with 2:52 left in the half. A Nudd three cut the Molloy lead to five, 32-27, at halftime.
Molloy scored the first two points of the third quarter to take a 34-27 lead. However, Tedesco and Nudd scored back-to-back baskets to get Mercy to within three, 34-31, with 7:39 on the clock. The Lions ensued with a 10-3 run to build the lead to 10, 44-34, at the 4:44 mark. A Maya Thomas jumper later gave Molloy a 12-point lead, 48-36, with 3:06 left. Mercy closed the quarter on a 4-0 run to head into the fourth quarter down eight, 48-40.
An Aspuru layup at the 8:30 mark in the final quarter gave Molloy a 10-point lead, 52-42. The Mavericks stormed back on a 10-4 run, capped off by a Wall three, to cut the Lions lead to four, 56-52, with five minutes left. Molloy scored the next four points to take a 60-52 lead with 1:59 remaining and led the rest of the way to earn the win.
Mercy shot 36.7 percent (18-of-49) from the floor, 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from downtown and 78.9 percent (15-of-19) from the foul line. Molloy shot 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the field, 30.0 percent (3-of-10) from beyond the arc and 81.8 percent (18-of-22) from the charity stripe. Molloy held a 37-33 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Friday, February 18th when they play at D'Youville at 6 p.m.
