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BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team will make history Saturday, as the Blackbirds will take part in the first-ever women's college basketball game played at Barclays Center. LIU will host NEC opponent Mount St. Mary's, as the first part of a double-header with the men's basketball team. Tip-off for the women's game is at 12 p.m., with the men's game to follow at 2:30 p.m.
LIU will be looking for its first conference win of the year, as the Blackbirds went 0-2 in the opening weekend of NEC play. LIU came back from a 17-point deficit against the Bobcats to close the lead to just three points in the final seconds of the game, but Quinnipiac went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the last 10 seconds to cement the 67-60 win. And Monday against Sacred Heart, the Blackbirds had an early second half lead over the defending NEC champions, but saw the Pioneers go on a 17-0 run late in the game to take the win, 61-47.
Mount St. Mary's is coming off a split in the first weekend of conference play. The Mountaineers beat Monmouth, 70-51, before falling to Fairleigh Dickinson in overtime, 69-60.
LIU is led by a trio of upperclassmen: seniors Tamika Guz and Krystal Wells and junior Cleandra Roberts are all averaging around eight points per game to lead scoring for LIU. Roberts also leads the team on defense, as she averages 5.9 rebounds per game. Junior Fanny Cavallo is second on the team in boards, averaging 5.0 rebounds per game.
ALL-TIME SERIES
• This weekend's matchup will be the 45th between the Mountaineers and the Blackbirds. Mount St. Mary's leads the all-time series, 27-17, but LIU has won 17 of the last 21 matchups, and Coach Gail Striegler is 6-2 against MSM since coming to LIU.
• Last year, the two teams split the series, each winning on their own home court. Mount St. Mary's won at home on Dec. 3, 2011, 44-43, but LIU rallied back to take a definitive win, 69-45 at the WRAC, January 21, 2012.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
• Mount St. Mary's is embarking on a long conference road trip, starting with the Blackbirds Saturday. The five-game road stand is the longest conference road trip for MSM in program history.
• The Mountaineers (5-8 overall, 1-1 NEC) split the opening weekend of NEC play, beating Monmouth handily, 70-51, before falling to FDU in OT, 69-60.
• Mount is led by three different players on offense. Junior guard Sydney Henderson leads the team in scoring and rebounds, with 12.8 points per game, and 6.2 rebounds per game. Junior forward Jessie Kaufman is next in scoring, with 9.8 points per game, while sophomore guard Jacqueline Brewer has an 8.9 points per game average.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
• LIU will not play at home in the WRAC for nearly a month. After a matchup with Ohio University on December 21, the next time LIU will be “home” is against Mount St. Mary's January 12th, but the game will be played at the Barclays Center. The next time LIU plays at the WRAC will be Monday, January 14, when the Blackbirds host Wagner at 7 pm.
LIU ON THE WEB
• For the first time ever, home LIU Brooklyn women's basketball games will be seen live via the internet.
• In conjunction with Pack Network, the Northeast Conference launched NEC Front Row, an online digital network with multi-platform access.
• All home contests and select road conference games not broadcast regionally or nationally will be seen on necfrontrow.com.
BLACKBIRDS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
• LIU Brooklyn is fully connected to all of its fans through social media. Follow all of LIU athletics via our Twitter and Facebook pages.
• Follow LIU athletics on Twitter via @LIUAthletics. Also, follow the LIU women's basketball team on Twitter @LIUwbb
• LIU also has a Facebook page. Go to Facebook.com/LIUAthletics and click “Like”.
THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
• The Northeast Conference celebrates its 32nd anniversary this season. The 12-member conference dates back to 1981, when it originated as the men's basketball-only ECAC-Metro Conference.
• LIU Brooklyn is one of the six charter institutions that helped form the alliance in 1981, and all six schools remain affiliated with the NEC today.
• With the addition of five more colleges and universities over the years, including Bryant as a full member this season, the NEC has spread its footprint over five states and into such major media markets as New York City, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.