Shorthanded Women's Basketball Battles Tough in 63-55 Loss to Quinnipiac

(boxscore)

2/12/05 -- Undermanned Long Island received 21 points and five 3-pointers from junior Amber Wirth (Hastings, Minn.) as it hung tough in a 63-55 Northeast Conference loss to Quinnipiac at Schwartz Center.

Playing without starters Ravin Chase (Baltimore, Md.), fellow senior Polona Oberc (Ljubljana, Slovenia) and sophomore Kelli Sawyer (Philadelphia, Pa.), the Blackbirds (9-13, 5-8 NEC) dressed just nine players and gave a valiant effort.

The Bobcats (12-9, 9-3) started to take control with a 12-3 run to open a 28-12 lead with 7:01 left in the first half thanks to four points apiece from Helen Ridley and Jackie Harris. Their efforts helped the team shoot 45 percent (14-of-31) from the floor in the half and hold the Blackbirds to 27 percent (9-of-33) for a 33-23 halftime lead.

Quinnipiac scored eight straight points in just over two minutes to gain its biggest lead, 45-28, with 16:07 remaining. Krystal Pressley and Kim Fitzpatrick each buried a 3-pointer in that stretch.

LIU made it a game by using a 12-2 spurt to close to 47-40 with 10:28 to play. Sophomore Masa Susic (Zenica, Bosnia & Herzegovina) scored six points during the run and junior Goska Radwan (Stalowa Vola, Poland) added four.

But the Blackbirds, who shot 57 percent (13-of-23) in the second half, could get no closer as their deficit fluctuated between seven and 13 points the rest of the way.

Wirth, who shot 8-of-12 from the floor and grabbed a season-best eight rebounds, fell one point shy of matching her season best set December 7, 2004 at Wagner and three short of her career high from February 18, 2003 against Fairleigh Dickinson. The 2003 NEC All-Rookie pick has scored 871 career points, moving into 13th place on the school’s all-time scoring list surpassing the 856 points from Lorna Singleton (1981-85).

Sophomore Sara Oblak (Skofja Loka, Slovenia) poured in 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting along with eight rebounds and Susic added a season-high 14 points off the bench.

Pressley scored 14 points, Shrita Smith netted 10 and Hannalee Pervan hauled in 12 rebounds for Quinnipiac, which shot 46 percent (26-of-56) overall.

LIU visits Monmouth on Thursday for a 7:00 pm tip-off.