Jan. 15, 2005

Box Score

Garden City, N.Y. - After leading 37-33 at the half the Adelphi University women's basketball team shot just 28.9 percent in the second half to fall to Molloy College, 85-77, on Saturday evening in Woodruff Hall. The Panthers drop to 7-6 on the season and 6-4 in the NYCAC. The Lions improve to 5-8 and 5-5 in conference play.

Four players scored in double figures for the Panthers led by senior Meranne Whitney (Nashua, N.H.) with 24 points and five rebounds. Senior Melanie Mangone had 17 points and six rebounds. Senior Courtney Carpenter(Tom's River, N.J.) and Carlyshia Hurdle (Brentwood, N.Y.) added 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Adelphi came out strong, taking an early 11-4 lead in the first four minutes of play. Molloy rallied back on a 14-4 run capped by a jumper from Donna Lohrey at 13:16. Both teams traded baskets eventually knotting the score at 20 on a made free throw by freshman Gianna Smith (Hempstead, N.Y.). This helped spur a 10-4 Adelphi run with 4:26 remaining in the half. The Lions managed to close the gap, pulling ahead by one, 33-32, with 1:22 on the clock. A three-pointer from Whitney helped pull the Panthers ahead as they held on to a 37-33 lead at the end of the half.

The Lions came out strong in the second half, opening on a 14-2 run, 49-39, at 16:25. Mangone poured in six of the next eight Adelphi points, to bring the Panthers to within four, 51-47, at 15:24. This would prove to be the closest they would come as Molloy pulled away, extending its lead to 72-58 with 7:46 left to play. The Lions held on for the win, 85-77.

Lohrey led all players with a career high 36 points and five assists. Rose Bruno chipped in with 17 points and nine rebounds.

Adelphi returns to action on Tuesday, traveling to C.W. Post for a 5:30 p.m. match-up.