GROVE CITY - Julie Molloy grew three inches in the off-season.

Her play has enjoyed an equally prodigious growth spurt.

The now 5-foot-10 junior point guard with the size of a post player is averaging nearly 14 points per game to go with her average of seven rebounds and six assists.

"She's grown," said Grove City coach Roger Flynn, talking about both the physical and mental sprouting Molloy has enjoyed. "She can do a lot more now. She can go get some key rebounds and she's able to match up against bigger girls. That's a real asset."

Molloy always has been an adept ball handler. When she started playing basketball in the fifth grade, she fell naturally into the position of point guard because of her quick hands and short stature.

"As soon as I started playing, I was the point guard," Molloy said. "I've always been very good at it. I guess because I was shorter, I'd be on the outside, making passes and shooting."

But now, through the blessing of her father's 6-foot-2 stature and lots of time on the court, Molloy has a new dimension to her game.

"I kind of like it," Molloy said. "Being taller as a point guard makes it easier to see the floor.

"I like taking advantage of what I can do. I grew three more inches this past year, so most of the point guards guarding me are smaller."

It also makes it easier for her to make her way into the paint, something she hasn't had to do a lot until this year.

That has made Grove City a dangerous team in the early going, as the Eagles are off to a 7-2 start this season.

Molloy averaged 9.1 points per game last year as a sophomore and just 5.9 points per contest as a freshman while taking over the position filled by a Grove City High legend, Amber McFeely.

This season, Molloy has focused more on picking up some of the scoring burden for a team with a talented starting five, but little depth.

"I knew I could always score more," Molloy said. "As a freshman, I passed it more because I was young and that was what I was supposed to do. This year, I know I need to step up and be more aggressive."

That aggressiveness has come from playing a lot of basketball.

Molloy played more than 60 games this summer with the Rock Solid AAU basketball team. While there, she worked on her shooting and had a lot of opportunity to do so.

"It was kind of easy over the summer playing a lot of games on the AAU team to shoot a lot more," Molloy said. "My coach on the AAU team (Posey Rhoads) helped a lot with my shooting. I put a lot of work into that."

That experience also made Molloy a lot more physical. Most of her games with Rock Solid were grueling ones, played under much harsher conditions than in high school, such as having to operate under the constant ticking of a shot clock and playing more than one game per day at times.

"I should be able to get stronger and more physical," Molloy said.

Flynn has seen the change in Molloy from a timid freshman who would pass up a shot to a confident junior.

"Not now," Flynn said. "If she has an open shot, she's going to take it."

Molloy's success this season also can be attributed to her supporting cast.

Senior Alissa Chutz is averaging 13.3 points and senior Ashley McKnight is a dangerous perimeter shooter.

"It's good to know I have someone to pass it to," Molloy said. "Alissa is a great player and Ashley can shoot it, too."

Flynn is just happy Molloy is on his side.

"She's been a starter all three years," Flynn said. "She's certainly one of the better players in our region and she handles the ball very well and sees the court. She is also a very good defensive player. She's a complete player."