Nainima's 30 Points Lead Long Island in Rout of Siena

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11/20/06 -- Freshman Valerie Nainima (Suva, Fiji) netted a game-high 30 points on 10-for-16 shooting as the Long Island University women's basketball team upended Siena, 78-46, at the Alumni Recreation Center. The Blackbirds shot a red-hot 66 percent in the first half to put the game out of reach early.

Long Island (1-3) took a 10-3 lead and never looked back. Senior Marquita Thompson (Garland, Texas) netted 10 of the team's first 17 points as the Blackbirds built a 10-point advantage. From that point, LIU rattled off a 23-6 run that put the Saints in a 49-21 hole at halftime. Siena never recovered. Thompson finished with 15 points and a team-high six rebounds.

Nainima scored 19 of her points in the first half shooting 7-for-10, including 4-for-5 from three-point land. The Fiji native sank five treys on the night. Fellow freshman Connie James (Galloway, N.J.) chipped in eight points off the bench.

Siena's Sarah Fullmer recorded 15 points in the loss and led the Saints with six boards.

The victory was the first time Long Island won by more than 30 points since the Blackbirds defeated St. Francis (N.Y.), 70-31, on Feb. 16, 2006.

The Blackbirds will return home on Friday, Nov. 24, when they host Cleveland State in the opening game of the LIU Turkey Classic. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 p.m.