Blackbirds Bounce Back Big, Breeze by Northeastern, 74-61

(boxscore)

12/16/06 -- The Long Island University women’s basketball team rebounded from a heartbreaking loss to Central Connecticut State with a convincing 74-61 win over Northeastern at Solomon Court. The Blackbirds rushed out to a 14-2 lead and maintained a workable cushion throughout the game to cruise to victory and improve to 7-4 on the season. Freshman Valerie Nainima (Suva, Fiji) led four Long Island players in double-figures with 15 points. Senior Sara Oblak (Skofja Loka, Slovenia) took control of the second half, scoring 12 of her season-high 14 points in the second stanza.

Nainima set the pace early, draining a jumper from the top of the key just 25 seconds into the game. The Blackbirds held Northeastern (0-8) to just three field goals in the first 10 minutes, expanding their lead to 23-8. Long Island shot a potent 50 percent from the floor in the first half. The Huskies switched to a zone defense in an attempt to thwart the Blackbirds’ hot shooting, but Long Island countered by spreading the floor. Nainima, senior Brittani Kozik (Belle Plaine, Iowa) and junior Mikaelar Whippy (Suva, Fiji) each hit three-pointers on consecutive trips down the floor to close out the first half and give the Blackbirds a 42-24 halftime advantage.

Northeastern switched to a full-court press in the second half that did little to slow down Long Island. Oblak caught fire, knocking down six of her seven second-half attempts. The Blackbirds led for the entire game, stretching that lead to as many as 20 points. Senior Marquita Thompson (Garland, Texas) came off the bench to score 14 points and Whippy finished with 10. It was the second time this season that Long Island had at least four players register double-digit point totals.

The Blackbirds narrowly came out on top in the battle of the boards, snaring 26 rebounds to the Huskies’ 25. Oblak’s six caroms led Long Island. Whippy and freshman Connie James (Galloway, N.J.) each added five rebounds. Joanna Ausmann also collected six boards to pace Northeastern. The Huskies also saw four players net double-figures in points, with Ashlee Feldman leading the way with 14.

Senior Sonya Coleman (Toledo, Ohio) had a solid effort for Long Island, contributing five points and five assists Classmate Anna Dziadkowiec (Krakow, Poland) scored a season-high five points off the bench, all coming late in the game.

The Blackbirds shot 52 percent for the game, including 40 percent from three-point land. Northeastern connected on 39 percent of its shots.

Long Island will be off for 13 days before traveling to Greenville, N.C. to take on East Carolina on Dec. 29 at 7:00 p.m.