Box Score

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Despite double-double performances from juniors Danielle Powell (Middletown, N.Y.) and Jackie Beathea (Annandale, Va.), the Southern Connecticut State University women's basketball team dropped its season opener today, losing to Molloy College, 79-72.

Powell tallied her first double-double of the season with a career-high 13 rebounds and 11 points while Beathea recorded the Owls' second double-double of the afternoon with 10 rebounds and 12 points.

Sophomore Taylor McLaughlin (Colchester, Conn.) had a career morning for the Owls as she recorded a career- high 22 points and tied her career-high eight rebounds. Junior Nicole Grossbard (Pearl River, N.Y.) also tied her career-high in assists with nine.



Southern Connecticut took control early in the first half until a layup from Kimani Jackson gave the Lions their first lead of the game, 6-5. Molloy continued to extend its lead over Southern Connecticut, but a layup from Beathea put the Owls to within five (17-12) with 9:26 left in the first.

The Lions continued to dominate in the first taking their biggest lead of 15 points (33-18) with 4:39 remaining in the first half. Southern Connecticut slowly chipped away at the Lions' lead and ended the half trailing Molloy, 40-24.
 
Powell led all players with nine points and nine rebounds over the first 20 minutes, including shooting 4-for-6 from the field. As a team Southern Connecticut 25 percent from the field and outrebounded the Lions, 30-28.



Both teams came out firing on all cylinders to start the second half, but Molloy continued to extend their lead to 18 (47-29). Following a layup from McLaughlin, the Owls found themselves within 12 (51-39) with 14:26 left to play.

With the score at 62-43, in favor of the Lions, the Owls went on a 15-0 run to bring the score to within four (62-58). Molloy broke the silence with a layup from Megan Lonegran, but the Owls continued swoop in on the Lions, 72-68.

As the clock winded down, Southern Connecticut continued to threaten Molloy to within five (74-69), but Molloy secured the 79-72 win on a 5-3 run.
 
The Owls will be back in action tomorrow (Nov. 16) as the team takes on the University of Bridgeport at Hubbell Gymnasium as part o f the 2014 UB Women's Basketball Classic. Game is scheduled for 6 p.m.