Blackbirds Fall to Central Connecticut, 50-49

(boxscore)

2/28/06 -- Long Island University junior Marquita Thompson (Garland, Texas) scored in double-digits for the fourth game in a row, but her effort could not hold off Central Connecticut State as the Blackbirds fell, 50-49 Tuesday evening at Detrick Gymnasium in New Britain, Conn.

Sophomore Mikaelar Whippy (Suva, Fiji) added 11 points and five assists for play-off bound LIU.

The Blue Devils (9-19, 6-12 NEC) jumped out to a 5-2 head start, however Thompson netted eight consecutive points for LIU to cut the lead to one (10-9). Senior Amber Wirth (Hastings, Minn.) drained a 3-pointer to give the Blackbirds (13-14, 11-7 NEC) their first lead of the contest (12-11) with 9:23 on the clock. The first period remained close with neither team leading by more than four points.

Junior Sara Oblak (Skofja Loka, Slovenia) made a layup with one tick left in the opening stanza to push LIU up 23-19.

The teams continued to battle in the second frame, but a Kim Boone layup ignited an 8-2 run at the 2:44 mark to give the Blue Devils a nine-point advantage (48-39).

LIU responded with a 10-2 run capped off by a triple from Whippy to pull the Blackbirds to a one-point deficit (50-49) with 13 seconds left to play but they would get no closer.

CCSU was led by Gabriella Guegbelet with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Boone chipped in 12.

The Blackbirds will face Monmouth in West Long Branch, N.J. for the opening round of Northeast Conference playoff action on Saturday, March 4.