OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (Jan. 10, 2011) - Freshmen Alexandra Venuto (Ossining, N.Y.) and Demitra Apergis (Littleton, Colo.) led the Bears with 15 points each as NYIT women's basketball went on to defeat Molloy College, 65-53, Monday night in East Coast Conference action. With the win, the Bears improved to 4-8 on the season and 2-5 in league play.

 

"We played a full 40 minutes and finished the game tonight," said head coach Anthony Crocitto. "That was the difference. Our heart on the boards was tremendous and our focus was on point. Our rookies [Alex and Demitra] really stepped up and produced career nights, while Ana [Komnenovic] quietly gave us 19 very effective minutes."

 

All 15 of Venuto's points came from behind the arc. Apergis shot 7-for-8 from the field, while also grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists. Also scoring double-figures was junior Cierra Baker (Windsor, Conn.), who posted 14 points and a game-high 18 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season. Sophomore Rebecca Lynch (Hillsdale, N.J.) nearly notch a double-double with 11 rebounds and seven points.

 

"I would love to see this win propel us to greater heights," said Crocitto. "We have a lot of winnable games left on the schedule. If we continue to work hard and do all the little things, we may be ready to make a push for an ECC Tournament spot." 

For the Lions, Ashley Addison posted 12 points, while Delmara Reece tallied 12 rebounds.

 

Venuto started things off with a three-pointer in the opening thirty seconds and NYIT never looked back. Despite efforts to knot the score throughout the first half, the Bears climbed to a 10-point lead on a layup from Baker with 4:01 to play. NYIT closed out its scoring in the first half with back-to-back jumpers from Apergis to lead by 11-points, 35-24, with 39 seconds to remaining. Caitlin Wheeler responded with a deuce of her own to have the Lions trail 35-26 at the half.

 

Molloy fought hard in the second half to equalize the score and did so with 8:10 on the clock. Wheeler nailed a trey to knot the score, 47-47. Yet, NYIT did not reliquish control of the scoreboard. Delmara Reece tied the score again about a minute later but Venuto retaliated with a trey to put the Bears on top for good. NYIT brought the game to a close on an 11-2 run that included baskets from Apergis, Venuto, Baker and Lynch.

 

The Bears return to action on Thursday, Jan. 13 on the road against the Spartans of St. Thomas Aquinas. Tip off is slated for 5:30 p.m. in Sparkill, N.Y. The game, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 12, was moved due to the threat of inclement weather in the New York area Tuesday into Wednesday.