Blackbirds Fall in NEC Semifinals to #1 Sacred Heart, 64-50

(boxscore)

3/7/06 --Fifth-seeded Long Island saw its season come to a halt, falling #1 Sacred Heart, 64-50 in Northeast Conference women's basketball semifinal action on Tuesday night in Fairfield, Conn.

The Pioneers (25-4) sprinted out of the gates and led 18-2 after nine minutes of action. Junior Jasmine Walker was big in the early minutes, hitting a pair of lay-ups and a baseline jumper on the run. After LIU’s Marquita Thompson hit one of two at the line to make it 18-3, the Pioneers took off on another jaunt, running off a 12-6 run that put SHU up 30-9 at 3:52.

The Blackbirds remained poised and put together a run of their own, pulling to within 12, 34-22 at the half after a 13-4 run. A three by sophomore Mikaelar Whippy and a pair of treys from Masa Susic highlighted the rally and junior Sonya Coleman capped it off with two free throws after drawing a foul at the halftime horn.

Long Island was able to cut to within 10 on a Thompson lay-in to open the half but SHU rallied, pushing the lead back to 20 over the next six minutes. LIU refused to go away and a pair of three’s by Amber Wirth and Thompson pulled the Blackbirds back to within 14, 49-35.

SHU made one final run that put the game away, as a jumper by Amanda Pape followed by a three-point play from the NEC Player of the Year got the Pioneers started on what would be a 13-2 run to lead 60-37 with just over six minutes left.

LIU finishes the year at 14-15 overall and got 13 points and nine rebounds from Thompson. Coleman tallied 10 with four assists in the loss.