Women's Basketball Comes Up Short at Monmouth, Falls 51-43

(boxscore)

2/17/05 -- Sophomore Sara Oblak (Skofja Loka, Slovenia) scored 12 points for Long Island, which saw its second-half rally come up short in a 51-43 Northeast Conference loss at Monmouth in West Long Branch, N.J.

The Blackbirds (9-14, 5-9 NEC) worked their way back into the contest by scoring eight straight points to close to 45-38 with 3:36 remaining. Oblak hit four free throws and senior Ravin Chase (Baltimore, Md.) also scored four points during that stretch in which LIU held Monmouth without a basket for over five minutes.

Courtney Lumpkin’s jumper with 3:06 left put Monmouth (12-10, 8-5) ahead, 47-38, before junior Amber Wirth (Hastings, Minn.) nailed a 3-pointer with 1:54 remaining to bring LIU within six.

The Blackbirds looked to get the ball back after Lumpkin missed a short jumper, but Erin Winston grabbed the offensive rebound -- one of 20 for the Hawks -- and was fouled. Winston made two free throws with 48 seconds left for a 49-41 contest and Niahm Dwyer followed suit nine seconds later for a 10-point margin.

Wirth and Chase scored eight points apiece for the Blackbirds, who shot just 33 percent (13-of-40) overall but limited the Hawks to 30 percent (17-of-56). Chase grabbed seven rebounds and junior Goska Radwan (Stalowa Vola, Poland) added five for LIU, which suffered its sixth straight setback.

Lumpkin poured in 15 points, Dwyer netted 11 and Winston grabbed 12 rebounds for Monmouth.

LIU visits Sacred Heart on Saturday for a 12:00 pm tip-off. The game will be televised on Metro-TV followed by the men’s contest against the Pioneers at 2:00 pm.