Potential is high for Molloy

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Head coach Kate Lynch believes Molloy College’s women’s basketball team has made a lot of progress since last season’s defeat to NYIT in the opening round of the East Coast Conference Tournament.

The Lady Lions, picked to finish in the middle of the ECC pack, won three of their first five out of the gate but fell short in the conference opener against St. Thomas Aquinas. “We’re still a young team,” Lynch said. “The ladies are focused and have really come together so far. We’re looking to make the playoffs and make a run once we get there.

“Rankings are rankings,” she added. “It all comes down to what we have to do on the court.”

Last season, which court was a big factor in Molloy’s results. The Lady Lions (14-14 overall) went 8-3 at home and a combined 6-11 in road and neutral site games. “We played a lot better at home, but playing well elsewhere is an important piece of what we’re trying to accomplish,” Lynch said. “We have great fans. They always pack the house and help get us going.”

In the early going, Lynch has used a starting lineup consisting of three seniors, a junior, and a sophomore. 

The youngest starter, Aliyah McDonald, out of Uniondale, is running the offense from the point guard position. The sophomore is averaging 8.4 points through five games and pulling down 6.0 rebounds per game.

“We needed Aliyah to step up into a position she’s not entirely used to, and she’s doing a really solid job,” Lynch said. “She’s aggressive and passionate. She’s fast with the ball and is a big reason why we’re good in transition. She also crashes the boards like a forward.”

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