Women’s
Basketball Matches Program Record for Wins;
Defeats Monmouth for 12th Consecutive Victory |
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(boxscore) After building a 23-19 halftime lead despite shooting just 29 percent from the floor, Long Island (19-5, 12-1 NEC) embarked on a 14-4 run to put the game out of reach for Monmouth (14-9, 7-5). After the Blackbirds scored the first five points of the period, freshman Connie James (Galloway, N.J.) blocked Brianne Edwards’ layup, collected the rebound and set off on a fast break. She found junior Mikaelar Whippy (Suva, Fiji) in the lane, who passed right back to James for the easy bucket that put the Blackbirds up 28-19. After two more fast-break layups by Nainima, Long Island held an 11-point edge. Whippy followed with a three-pointer and senior Sara Oblak (Skofja Loka, Slovenia) capped off the scoring spurt with a layup, giving the Blackbirds a stranglehold on the scoreboard. Long Island would not let up, as senior Brittani Kozik (Belle Plaine, Iowa) came off the bench to drill back-to-back treys and extend the lead to 43-27. Nainima provided the icing on the cake when she broke out of Monmouth’s full-court press and fired a stunning half-court, no-look pass to senior Marquita Thompson (Garland, Texas). Thompson kicked the ball right back to the trailing Nainima, who banged home a trifecta that would prove to be the final dagger for the Hawks. Nainima added five rebounds, four steals and three assists to her game-high 19 points. The Blackbirds shot 38 percent for the game, including 48 percent during the second stanza. Monmouth shot 40 percent. Long Island won the battle of the boards, 38-33, with James collecting a game-high 11 caroms. The 11 rebounds ties a career high for the freshman, who also grabbed 11 boards in the Blackbirds’ win at Monmouth on Jan. 3. The two wins over the Hawks gave Long Island its first sweep of the season series since the 2001-02 season. The Blackbirds will return to action on Monday, Feb. 12, when
they host Central Connecticut State at 7:00 p.m.
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2/10/07 --
Sparked by a 14-4 run to open the second
stanza, the Long Island women’s basketball team captured
its 12th win in a row, handing Monmouth a 58-47 defeat at the Wellness,
Recreation and Athletic
Center. Reigning Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week Valerie
Nainima (Suva, Fiji) led the way with 19 points as the Blackbirds
tied the school record for victories in a season with 19.