Additions of Finlay and Bartlett Add Veteran Leadership to the Lions Back Court

During the offseason, the Molloy Lions gained two value transfer players who will bring veteran leadership to the team. The Lions added senior guard Amanda Bartlett from Queens College and junior guard Julia Finlay from UNC-Wilmington.

At Queen College last year, Bartlett averaged 20.1 points per game, about 10 points higher  than Molloy's leading scorer last season Ashley Addison; in addition, Bartlett was named All-ECC each of her three season with Knights. 

Bartlett cites several reasons for coming to Molloy “Academically, it is an awesome school, coach O'Hagan is a great coach, I knew some of the girls on the team already and knew we would be a contender to go far this year," Bartlett said.

She is confident that the Lions, who finished 8-21 despite winning the ECC Title the season before, will return to the top of the conference. “This year our goal is not only to win conference but also go far into the NCAA tournament. Honestly, I think we our team is very talented and deep and know we will go far this year."Bartlett said.

Finlay played her first two seasons for the UNC-Wilmington; with the Seahawks she averaged 2.2 points in her first two seasons with the team.

Finlay, like Bartlett, sees playing the Lions as a great opportunity."I picked Molloy because I loved the people. From the coaches to the girls on the team everyone was so genuinely nice and welcoming." Finlay said, “After watching their practice during my first visit, I knew I wanted to come here. The practice was very competitive but at the same time as much as the girls were competitors they were also teammates supporting each other all the time through."

Finlay is also optimistic about the Lions upcoming season. "We are looking for nothing less than a championship and post-season play. We have the talent, experience and hunger to do it," Finlay said.

Coach Tim O'Hagan is excited about the incoming talent.”The two of them bring experience in our back court and a ton of leadership," O'Hagan said. “And with Bartlett we have a closer again meaning at the end of games we have a kid who we know is going to get the ball and give us a great chance to close out games."

Bartlett and Finlay make their Lions debut on November 12th when the Lions  travel to Merrimack.