Women's Basketball Extends Winning Streak to 13; Drops Central Connecticut State, 58-46

(boxscore)

2/12/07 -- The Long Island University women’s basketball team overcame a slow start to defeat Central Connecticut State, 58-46, and break the program record for wins in a season. Three Blackbirds registered double figures in scoring, as Long Island notched its 20th victory of the season and 13th in a row. Reigning Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week Valerie Nainima (Suva, Fiji) led the way with 14 points.

Long Island (20-5, 13-1 NEC) missed its first eight shots of the game before junior Mikaelar Whippy (Suva, Fiji) sank a three-pointer to put the Blackbirds on the board. The next time down the court, Whippy struck again from deep, giving Long Island a 6-4 lead. After Central Connecticut’s Gabriella Guegbelet tied the game, Whippy completed a trifecta of treys with yet another shot from beyond the arc.

From there, the Blackbirds twice gutted out five-point leads, only to see the Blue Devils (5-20, 3-11) come back and tie the game. A jumper by senior Sonya Coleman (Toledo, Ohio) with 41 seconds left in the half, gave Long Island its largest lead of the frame.

The Blackbirds built a double-digit lead in the second half when Whippy pilfered a steal and drove the length of the court for a layup. Long Island would not let its advantage dip below nine points from that point on and held on for the win.

Guegbelet led all scorers with 23 points and was the only Blue Devil to reach double figures. Whippy finished with 11 points and six assists, while senior Sara Oblak (Skofja Loka, Slovenia) chipped in 10 points.

Central Connecticut’s Katherine Kelsey snared a game-high 14 boards, while Coleman grabbed a career-high seven to pace the Blackbirds. Each team collected 33 caroms.

The 20th victory of the season surpassed the mark set by the 1976-77 squad that went 19-4.

Long Island will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 17, when the Blackbirds host Quinnipiac on Senior Day. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 p.m.