Box Score
Dover, Del. - The Long Island University women's basketball team halted a three-game losing streak with a 67-57 win at Delaware State. Junior
Kiara Evans turned in a game-high 22 points, tying a career high, as the Blackbirds improved to 5-4 for the season.
Long Island capitalized on a cold shooting effort from Delaware State in a first half that featured sloppy play from both teams. With the Lady Hornets leading 13-12, a basket by Evans kicked off nine straight points for the Blackbirds. Senior
Justine Stevenson's one-handed move out of the post and a layup on the following possession ran the Long Island lead to 18-13. After an Evans free throw, Delaware State's Uchechi Ahaiwe wildly missed a layup and the long rebound caromed out to Evans for an easy fast-break bucket. The nine consecutive points put the Lady Hornets in a 21-13 hole.
Ahaiwe hit a layup that was Delaware State's first point in six minutes, but the Blackbirds were not done there. A pair of old-fashioned three-point plays from Evans and Palmer sandwiched around a Kianna Conner jumper pushed the Long Island advantage to 10 points. After a pair of free throws from Conner and a basket by Tony Clark cut the Lady Hornet deficit to single digits as the half was coming to an end, Evans launched a buzzer-beater from a step inside half court to send Long Island to the locker room up 30-21. All told, the Blackbirds benefitted from an 18-8 run to close out the half.
Long Island was able to keep its lead in the 10-14 point range for most of a second half that was about as ugly as the first frame. The Blackbirds pushed their advantage to a game-high 16 points on a three-pointer by senior
Heidi Mothershead with three minutes left to play.
Evans added seven rebounds and five assists to her 22 points, matching a scoring effort from earlier this season in a Nov. 27 win over Boston University. Palmer recorded her second double-double of the season (23rd career) with 15 points and 10 boards.
Tasia Bristow tallied 18 points to lead Delaware State while Deanna Harmon added 10 points.
The Blackbirds will be off for seven days before hosting Stony Brook at the Wellness Center on Sunday, Dec. 19. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m.