Nainima and Oblak Lead Long Island Past Fairleigh Dickinson, 72-61

(boxscore)

2/19/07 -- Two days after seeing its 13-game winning streak come to an end, the Long Island University women’s basketball team rebounded with a 72-61 victory at Fairleigh Dickinson. Freshman Valerie Nainima (Suva, Fiji) netted a game-high 23 points and senior Sara Oblak (Skofja Loka, Slovenia) registered a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Blackbirds improved to 21-6 (14-2 Northeast Conference).

Long Island built a 10-point lead late in the first half, but Fairleigh Dickinson (9-16, 6-9) scored the last eight points of the period to narrow the Blackbirds’ edge to two points at the half. Nainima scored the first five points of the second stanza as Long Island regained its double-digit edge with an 8-0 run of its own. In all, the Blackbirds scored 13 of the first 15 points of the frame to take a 13-point lead. The Blackbirds held the Knights to just one field goal in the first eight-and-a-half minutes of the second half.

After Long Island stretched its advantage to as many as 17 points, Fairleigh Dickinson whittled the Blackbird lead down to eight points with under two minutes to play. Senior Sonya Coleman (Toledo, Ohio) went to the line six times, converting all six free throws to ice the win. Coleman was one of four Blackbirds to finish in double digits, tallying 10 points. Junior Mikaelar Whippy (Suva, Fiji) also hit for 10 points, despite playing just 29 minutes before fouling out.

Oblak netted 10 of her 15 points in the first half, finishing the game with a 7-for-10 mark from the floor. Nainima shot 7-for-17 from the field, including a triumvirate of trifectas. The Blackbirds finished with a 47 percent shooting mark, while the Knights shot just 29 percent.

Fairleigh Dickinson narrowly won the battle of the boards, 39-36. Oblak’s 10 rebounds was a game-high, with Whippy chipping in seven. Christy Altamirano and Jordan Sykes each scored 12 points to lead the Knights.

Long Island will wrap up the regular season with a two-game road swing through Pennsylvania. The Blackbirds will visit Robert Morris on Feb. 22 before traveling to Saint Francis (Pa.) on Feb. 24.