Blackbirds Drop Road Contest to Sacred Heart, 59-43

(boxscore)

2/6/06 -- The Long Island University’s women’s basketball team could not overcome a poor shooting performance as they fell on the road to Sacred Heart, 59-43, in a Northeast Conference matchup on Monday evening.

In a nip and tuck first half that featured eight ties and four lead changes, neither team was able to build a lead larger than three points. After a jumper by Nicole Rubino tied the contest at 16-16, senior Amber Wirth (Hastings, Minn.) connected on a three-pointer that pushed LIU (8-12, 6-5 NEC) ahead with 2:28 remaining.

Wirth would score the Blackbirds’ final eight points of the period en route to a 24-23 lead at intermission. Jasmine Walker controlled the inside for the Pioneers (17-4, 10-2 NEC), scoring 10 points and shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor in the first half.

Two layups by senior Polona Oberc (Ljubljana, Slovenia) and junior Marquita Thompson (Garland, Texas) to begin the second half gave LIU its largest lead of the game, 28-23. But the Blackbirds would go cold from the floor, connecting on just 18 percent of their shots the rest of the way. Amanda Pape scored six points in an 11-2 run that gave Sacred Heart a 36-30 advantage with 11:06 remaining.

Despite the poor shooting, the Blackbirds hung tough as Wirth connected on three free throws and a layup by Brittani Kozik pulled the team to within one (38-37) with 7:38 showing. But the inside presence of Walker was too much, as the junior scored nine consecutive points for her team. A three-point play capped a 9-2 spurt that opened up a 47-39 lead for the Pioneers as they went on to victory. The 6-2 forward ended with a game-high 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting.

Wirth led the Blackbirds with 11 points, while Thompson finished with 10. Pape ended with a double-double (16 points, 10 rebounds) for Sacred Heart.

The Blackbirds continue their NEC schedule with a pivotal road contest at Mount St. Mary’s on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 7:00 p.m.