Comeback Falls Short as Hofstra Outlasts Long Island, 68-57

(boxscore)

11/17/06 -- Despite an early second-half charge, the Long Island women’s basketball team suffered a 68-57 loss to Hofstra at the Wellness, Recreation and Athletic Center. After trailing for the entire first half, the Blackbirds used a 9-4 run to open the second half to tie the game, but the Pride bounced right back to secure the win.

Freshman Valerie Nainima (Suva, Fiji) paced the Blackbirds with 15 points, but Hofstra used a balanced scoring attack with four players registering double figures to come out on the winning side of the ledger. Lizanne Murphy (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Vanessa Gidden (12 points, 10 rebounds) each achieved double-doubles for the Pride, who improved to 2-1.

Hofstra came out strong to start the game, scoring the first six points en route to building a 15-5 lead. By the time there were under five minutes left in the half, the Pride held a 13-point edge. The Blackbirds (0-3) started their comeback in the waning minutes of the first frame. The drive was punctuated by a steal and resulting coast-to-coast layup by freshman Connie James (Galloway, N.J.). James’ bucket cut the Hofstra lead to five points at 36-31.

Long Island switched to a small, four-guard lineup to start the second stanza. That unit quickly whittled away the Pride’s lead and tied the game. After Nainima pulled down a big defensive board, she fed senior Sonya Coleman (Toledo, Ohio), who faked a driving layup before dishing the ball to junior Mikaelar Whippy (Suva, Fiji). Whippy’s layup made the score 44-42. On the next Hofstra possession, Nainima swiped the ball from Samantha Brigham and rocketed a long pass to Whippy under the basket. Whippy saved the ball from going out of bounds and got it to senior Sara Oblak (Skofja Loja, Slovenia), who tied the game with a layup.

The Pride turned the tide and responded with a 19-3 run of its own to retake control and put the game out of reach for the Blackbirds.

Whippy finished with 13 points and five rebounds, while senior Marquita Thompson (Garland, Texas) added 10 points and four boards. James made her first significant impact of her young career, netting six points and tying for a team-high with seven rebounds. Oblak also collected seven caroms.

The Blackbirds will hit the road for the first time this season when they travel to Loudonville, N.Y. to take on Siena on Monday, Nov. 20 at 7:00 p.m.