ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (Jan. 18, 2025) – Despite junior Angelina Barrera (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) and sophomore Grace Lesko (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) scoring in double figures, the Mercy University women's basketball team dropped a 67-56 decision at ECC foe Molloy University on Saturday afternoon at Bob Houlihan Gymnasium.
The Mavericks (10-7, 4-3 ECC) see their two-game winning streak come to an end and fall to the Lions (9-8, 3-3 ECC) for the first time since February 12, 2022.
Mercy was led by Barrera who had a game-high-tying 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting with a game-high nine rebounds to go with three assists, two blocks and one steal. Lesko had 13 points, five rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals and sophomore Amani Abuhatab (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) recorded eight points and five rebounds. Sophomore Molly Boek (Saugerties, N.Y./Saugerties) contributed seven points and freshman Caitlin Leary (Carle Place, N.Y./Carle Place) produced six points. Freshman Morgan Miller (Branford, Conn./Sacred Heart Academy) scored two points and had three assists.
Molloy was led by Samantha Muller who had a game-high-tying 20 points.
Mercy jumped out to an 8-5 lead at the 7:04 mark of the first quarter after a Barrera three-point play. The Mavericks later held a 10-8 advantage with 5:55 on the clock before the Lions ended the quarter on an 11-3 run to take a 19-13 lead after the first quarter.
The Mavericks scored the first seven points of the second quarter to take a 20-19 lead after a Boek layup with 8:26 left in the half. Two Muller free throws gave Molloy a 21-20 lead before a Leary three and two Barrera free throws gave Mercy a 25-21 lead with 6:00 on the clock. The Lions went on an 8-0 run to retake the lead at 29-25 before a Barrera layup in the final minute of play cut Molloy's lead to two, 29-27, at halftime.
Molloy recorded the first three points of the third quarter to take a 32-27 lead. Back-to-back layups from Boek and Miller cut the Lions' lead to one, 32-31, with 6:59 left in the quarter. Molloy responded with a 13-4 run to increase the lead to 10, 45-35, at the 1:37 mark. Mercy closed the quarter on a 5-0 run, finished off by two Abuhatab free throws, to cut the Lions' lead to five, 45-40, after three quarters.
The Lions began the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run to take their largest lead of the game, 53-40, with 8:37 left. Mercy followed with a 9-2 run to get within six, 55-49, after a Barrera three-point play with 6:40 remaining. Molloy came back on a 9-2 run to build the lead back to 13, 64-51, with 1:56 on the clock and held on for the 67-56 win.
Mercy shot 36.0 percent (18-of-50) from the floor, 60.0 percent (3-of-5) from downtown and 89.5 percent (17-of-19) from the foul line. Molloy shot 40.7 percent (24-of-59) from the field, 33.3 percent (6-of-18) from beyond the arc and 72.2 percent (13-of-18) from the charity stripe. Molloy held a 35-33 edge on the glass.
Head Coach Scott Lagas and the Mavericks resume action on Saturday, January 25th when they host St. Thomas Aquinas at 12 p.m.
