Rockville Centre, N.Y. - Trailing by as many as 19, the Adelphi University women's basketball team staged a dramatic comeback late in the fourth quarter, but couldn't overcome the deficit in a 66-63 non-conference loss at Long Island rival Molloy College on Thursday night.

In the rematch of the second round of the NCAA Tournament from a year ago, Adelphi (4-4) faced a 53-35 deficit at the close of three periods, with the largest gap of 19 coming with 5:38 left in the third at 46-27.

However, the Brown and Gold totaled 28 points over the final 10 minutes, outscoring Molloy (4-3) by 15, and eventually tied the game at 62-62 with 1:03 on the clock, only to falter to defeat as the Lions proved clutch at the free throw line.

The Panthers scored 11 of the first 14 points of the period, anchored by seven of Simone Hobdy's team-high 21 for the contest, to whittle the deficit to single digits for the first time since the opening quarter at the midway point.

Another 9-3 spurt capped by a Hobdy jumper, which ballooned the scoring run to 24-10 over the first 6:30 of the final period, made it a one-possession contest, and Adelphi climbed all the way back when Niajah Morgan sank two from the free throw line to add to her 11 points for the game with 63 seconds remaining.

However, with both teams over the foul limit, the game was won at the free throw line - Molloy wrestled back the lead as McKayla Hernandez sank both her efforts after being fouled by Morgan with 57 seconds on the clock. After Hobdy picked her fifth foul on the offensive end, Adelphi nonetheless got a chance to tie the game again after Molloy turned the ball over and Gabriella Aspuru fouled Emily Miccile after the latter pulled down a key offensive rebound. 

The freshman's first free throw effort rimmed in, and then out, as she made one of two with seven ticks on the clock, and Molloy's - and the game's - leading scorer, Ihnacinse Grady rounded out her 23-point effort with a pair of freebies. With Adelphi down three and out of timeouts, the Panthers pressed down the court, but sharpshooter Fallyn Stephens was unable to get a clean look at the game-tying three. 

Thirteen first half turnovers by Adelphi led to 12 points for Molloy, as the Lions built a 36-25 lead at the break. Adelphi briefly held a second-quarter lead thanks to a Jess Camarda three-pointer with 6:28 on the clock until halftime, which made the score 19-18 in favor of the Brown and Gold as a part of a 13-7 scoring stretch to begin the second period.

However, the Lions stamped their authority on the half with an 18-6 run until halftime, capped by a buzzer-beating, half court three-pointer from Melody Prichard. Hobdy and Morgan both recorded double-doubles in the setback for Adelphi, with 17 and 10 rebounds, respectively, while Miccile added eight points and eight rebounds.

The Panthers return to Northeast-10 Conference play on Saturday, Dec. 2, when they welcome the Southern Connecticut State Owls into the CRS for a 1:30 p.m. contest.

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About Adelphi Athletics
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009, and in the past eight seasons, has collected 25 regular season conference titles, 26 tournament championships, 33 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup four times (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), while winning six NCAA Division II National Championships.

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