ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – Returning to East Coast Conference play, the Queens College women's basketball team traveled to Rockville Centre to take on Molloy University Lions Saturday afternoon inside Bob Houlihan Gymnasium.
The junior duo of guard
Daja White (Queens, N.Y.) and forward
Nkiru Awaka (Hyde Park, N.Y.) led the Knights offensively, combining for 30 points. White finished with 16 points, while Awaka recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
In a tightly contested matchup that featured 10 lead changes and nine ties, Molloy closed the final 2:02 of play on an 8–3 run to hand Queens a 65–61 setback.
GAME RECAP
Rookie guard
Enise Hodzic (Queens, N.Y.) opened the scoring for the Knights, netting five early points as Queens took a 5–3 lead at the 6:51 mark of the first quarter. Molloy quickly responded with an 11–0 run to grab a 14–5 advantage with 3:55 remaining in the period.
A jumper from junior forward
Chyna Bryant (Bronx, N.Y.) snapped the Knights' scoring drought at the 3:38 mark, and Hodzic's seventh point of the quarter pulled Queens within five, 14–9, with 1:38 left.
After the Lions extended their lead to eight, Awaka converted a layup late to make it 17–11 heading into the second quarter.
Bryant and Awaka opened the second-quarter scoring, trimming the deficit to three, 17–14, at the 9:17 mark. Molloy answered with an 8–2 run to rebuild a nine-point lead, 25–16, by the 7:27 mark.
A three-pointer from White sparked a 9–0 surge for the Knights, as Queens quickly tied the contest at 25–25 with 5:51 left in the half.
The Lions responded with a 5–0 run, but Queens closed the final 4:12 on an 11–4 stretch, receiving contributions from five different players to take a 36–34 lead into the break.
Queens shot 62.5 percent in the second quarter, knocking down 10 field goals, while Molloy shot 41.1 percent with seven made baskets.
The third quarter belonged to the Lions, as Molloy outscored Queens 16–8 while holding the Knights to four made field goals. After trading baskets early, Molloy closed the quarter on an 11–2 run to take a 50–44 lead into the final period.
Sophomore forward
Chinyere Ukaegbu (Brooklyn, N.Y.), junior guard
Shellby Mcgill (Bronx, N.Y.), and Awaka opened the fourth quarter with a 6–0 run to knot the game at 50–50 with 7:31 remaining.
The final quarter featured two lead changes and five ties, with White and Awaka combining for 13 points.
Awaka's layup at the 2:10 mark gave Queens a 58–57 edge, its final lead of the afternoon, but Molloy closed the game on an 8–3 run to secure the 65–61 victory and take the first conference meeting of the year.
Post Game Quote:
Head Coach
Travis Ponton: "This was a tightly contested game all the way, as we knew it would be. Going on the road in conference is tough, and our margin for error is small. We didn't do enough today to come away with the result we wanted, and that's on us. We have two tough opponents at home next weekend, so it's right back to work."
BY THE NUMBERS:
- White finished with a team-high 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
- With her basket at the 5:02 mark of the third quarter, White recorded the 1,000th point of her collegiate career.
- Awaka tallied her ninth double-double of the year with 14 points, 11 rebounds, four steals, and one block.
- Ukaegbu recorded seven points, three rebounds, and three steals.
- Hodzic finished with seven points, three assists, and three rebounds.
NEXT GAME:
Head coach
Travis Ponton and the Knights open a two-game homestand on Friday, January 16, welcoming Daemen University Wildcats to Fitzgerald Gymnasium for ECC action. Tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m.
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