AMHERST, N.Y. — Four Wildcats scored in double figures to help Daemen defeat Molloy 78-66 on Sunday afternoon.

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Ne'vaeh Buntley (Rochester, N.Y.) scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds, leading the offensive effort.
• Shyla Montgomery (Brockton, Mass.) added 13 points and collected eight rebounds, contributing significantly on both ends of the court.
• Claire Pikett (Holland, N.Y.) showcased defensive skills with four steals and also scored 10 points.
• Cecilia Lapertosa (Whitesboro, N.Y.) scored 10 points, also recording four rebounds and two assists.
• Sophie Auer (Lewiston, N.Y.) contributed three steals and added seven points to the team's performance.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Daemen opened the game with a strong offensive performance, converting 11 baskets, including two 3-pointers, to build its lead. Buntley led the charge, bolstered by assists from Montgomery and Pikett. Daemen's defensive efforts, highlighted by a block from Lapertosa, contributed to limiting the Lions to only five buckets. The first quarter ended with Daemen ahead 26–14.
• The Wildcats controlled the second quarter with a strong 7–0 run, highlighted by Montgomery's layup at the 9:12 mark. The team capitalized on the Lions' turnovers, accumulating five steals and converting defensive stops into points. Buntley extended the lead with a 3-pointer with under a minute to go, ensuring a 43–30 advantage by the end of the quarter.
• In the third, Daemen pulled ahead with a series of decisive plays, starting with Pikett's free throws at 9:17 to extend their lead. Despite the Lions' attempts to close the gap, the Wildcats' consistent scoring, highlighted by Pikett's layup and free throw at 4:25, solidified their advantage as they held a 63–47 advantage at the end of the quarter.
• Daemen maintained its momentum in the final quarter with a strong start, highlighted by Montgomery's three-pointer at 8:41, increasing its lead to 19 points. Auer contributed with a jumper in the paint and assisted on consecutive layups by Lapertosa late in the quarter, ensuring the Wildcats' control. Daemen's defense, including a block by Morgan White (New Carlisle, Ind.), kept the Lions at bay, securing the victory.

GAME NOTES

• The Wildcats held Molloy to 34.9% shooting from the field, including a 6.3% mark from long range.
• Daemen forced 24 Molloy turnovers and scored 26 points off them.
• The Wildcats led the entire game and held an advantage as large as 19 points.
• Daemen recorded 11 steals in the contest, reaching double digits for the fifth time this season.
• The Wildcats outscored the Lions 40-34 in paint points.
• With the win, Daemen is now 23-4 against Molloy and has won the last 13 matchups

UP NEXT
Daemen continues ECC play with its first conference road matchups next weekend. The Wildcats head to Mercy for a 5 p.m. contest on Friday, then travel to St. Thomas Aquinas for a 1 p.m. tilt on Sunday.

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Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

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