(boxscore)
1/21/06 --
The Long Island University women’s basketball team fell to
Monmouth University in a Northeast Conference matchup on Saturday
afternoon, 65-56, dropping the curtain on the Arnold and Marie
Schwartz Athletic Center after it had served as the Blackbirds
home court for the past 43 years.
Senior Amber Wirth (Hastings, Minn.) was the lone LIU player
in double figures with 13 points. Junior Marquita Thompson
(Garland,
Texas) added eight points and notched a career-best 10 rebounds
in the loss.
Known as the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre before being turned into
a gymnasium in 1962, the venue has featured performances from
such immortal show-business icons as Mae West, Bing Crosby and
Little
Richard. The edifice of the Paramount was retained yet adapted
to the athletic, recreational and social needs of the students
and staff at LIU.
In 2004, ground broke on the new Athletic Recreation and Wellness
Center. The largest building project in the 78-year history of
the Brooklyn Campus will feature state-of-the-art facilities
for students as well as serving as the new home for LIU athletics.
The final game at the Schwartz Center began with the Blackbirds
(4-11, 2-4 NEC) controlling much of the first half. A layup by
junior Sonya Coleman (Toledo, Ohio) gave LIU its largest advantage,
14-8, with 8:36 remaining.
The Hawks would respond, running off six straight points to tie
the game and limiting the Blackbirds to a single field goal,
a Wirth three-pointer, over the final eight minutes of the period.
LaKia Barber’s fast-break layup at the first half buzzer
capped another 6-0 run that pushed Monmouth’s lead to 25-19
at the break.
Junior Marquita Thompson (Garland, Texas) cut the LIU deficit
to three, 29-26, early in the second half, but it was as close
as
the Blackbirds would come as Monmouth kept control of the game
and improved its record to 7-8, 4-2 in the NEC.
Rachel Ferdinand led the Hawks with 12 points, while Niamh Dwyer
and LaShaunda Merriweather each tallied 11.
The women’s basketball team will christen its new arena on
Saturday, Jan. 28 in a men’s and women’s doubleheader
against Wagner. The women’s game will begin at 2 p.m.
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