UDC Women’s Basketball Season Ends in ECC Championship First Round

ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. – The University of the District of Columbia women's basketball team saw its 2025–26 season come to a close Wednesday evening, falling to Molloy University, 71–50, in the first round of the East Coast Conference Championship at Bob Houlihan Gymnasium.

The Firebirds finished the season with a 11–16 overall record and a 7–9 mark in ECC play after earning the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament.

Senior guard Nhaikyia Smith led UDC offensively with 18 points while also contributing six assists and five rebounds. Aliyah Eason provided a spark off the bench, finishing with 14 points including three three-pointers.

Le'Asia Todd anchored the Firebirds on the glass, recording a team-high 11 rebounds to go along with six points, two steals, and three blocks.

UDC opened the game with a strong defensive effort, taking a narrow 12–11 lead after the first quarter. Molloy responded in the second quarter, using a 17–12 run to take a 28–24 advantage into halftime.

The Lions gradually pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Firebirds 20–11 in the third quarter before adding 23 points in the final period to secure the victory.

Despite the loss, the Firebirds capped the regular season on a positive note by winning their final two games to secure a playoff berth under head coach John Nakpodia. The postseason appearance marks the fifth consecutive year the program has qualified for the ECC Championship.