73.0°,
Fair High hopes for senior-led Molloy
Posted
Kymira Woodberry is Molloy's all-time leading rebounder.
Courtesy Molloy College
Girard Fitts was Molloy's leading scorer last season.
Courtesy Molloy College
The first recruiting class of Molloy’s women’s basketball coach Tim O’Hagan will graduate in the spring, but first the Lions have some unfinished business to take care of this winter.
“The goal is to get back to the NCAA Tournament,” O’Hagan said after the team improved to 4-3 (3-2 East Coast Conference) with a 68-48 victory over St. Thomas Aquinas on Dec. 9. “With eight seniors, we have the experience and leadership it takes.”
Molloy finished 21-7 overall last season but missed qualifying for the NCAA Division II Tournament after falling in the ECC Tournament semifinals. It returned each of its five leading scorers including senior forward Kymira Woodberry, who poured in 17.6 points per game and pulled down 12.1 rebounds per game.
“Kymira is the total package,” O’Hagan said. “She has changed the dynamics of the whole program.”
In the second half of a 69-64 win at Queens on Dec. 5, Woodberry became the school’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,030. Her 1,473 points ranks fourth on the all-time list, 418 off the mark. “When she graduates she’ll be the all-time leader in everything,” O’Hagan said. “Where she doesn’t get enough credit is her assists. She’s a very unselfish player.”
Seniors E.J. Dreyer and Tatiana Lopez start up front with Woodberry. O’Hagan considers Dreyer to be the best defender in the ECC, and she also fills the stat sheet, averaging 8.4 points and 5.1 rebounds through seven games. Lopez, meanwhile, gives up at least three inches to her competition in the low post but manages to get the job done.
In the backcourt, senior guard Clarissa Jones has come into her own at the point. She’s averaging 10.3 points and improved her perimeter play to go along with her ability to drive and either score or dish. Senior Lisa Claxton has provided depth at the position, and senior shooting guard Lisa Abitante is the team’s biggest three-point threat and leader from the foul stripe.
Page 1 / 3
Report an inappropriate comment
Comments