Women's Basketball pulls away for 58-52 triumph at Central Connecticut State

(boxscore)

1/22/05 -- Junior Amber Wirth (Hastings, Minn.) and senior Polona Oberc (Ljubljana, Slovenia) scored five points apiece in the decisive run for Long Island, which put the defensive clamps on Central Connecticut State in a 58-52 Northeast Conference triumph in New Britain, Conn.

Wirth and Oberc came up big during a 14-1 run that gave the Blackbirds (9-8, 5-3 NEC) a 58-45 lead with 1:50 left. Sophomore Sara Oblak (Skofja Loka, Slovenia) netted four points in that stretch and Wirth capped it on a jumper for LIU's biggest lead.

The Blackbirds limited the Blue Devils (4-12, 3-4) without a basket over a seven-minute stretch, during which their were eight missed shots and four turnovers. In holding Central Connecticut State to just 39 percent (17-of-44) shooting, LIU notched its fourth victory in five outings.

Oberc closed with 13 points and Wirth netted 12, both shooting 5-of-9 from the field. Wirth bumped her career points total to 823, moving into a tie with Chelsea Ferguson (1992-96) for 15th on the school's all-time scoring list.

Senior Ravin Chase (Baltimore, Md.), one day after her 22nd birthday, scored 12 points and sophomore Kelli Sawyer (Philadelphia, Pa.) added 10 and seven rebounds to help LIU shoot 52 percent (22-of-42) from the field. It marks the third time this season the Blackbirds have surpassed 50 percent.

Krystal Coke closed with 17 points and Kim Boone added 13 for the Blue Devils.

Chase scored eight points in the first half as the Blackbirds shot 57 percent (12-of-21) from the floor for a 31-29 lead. The Blue Devils hit just 38 percent (9-of-24).

LIU returns to action Thursday at home against Fairleigh Dickinson. Tip-off is at 7:00 pm.