Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Video | Twitter
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team is headed north this weekend, for a one-hit wonder NEC game against Bryant before returning to Brooklyn. The Blackbirds will take on the Bulldogs, Saturday, January 26 at 1 p.m. at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, R.I.
Four players scored in double-digits Monday afternoon, as the LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team beat Fairleigh Dickinson in a midday MLK Jr. Day match-up in Stratis Arena, 70-62. The win snapped an eight-game losing streak for LIU, as the Blackbirds earned their first Northeast Conference win of the season, improving to 4-13 overall and 1-5 in NEC play. Tamika Guz led all players with 18 points in the win. Senior Krystal Wells scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while junior Cleandra Roberts had her third double-double of the year coming off the bench, with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Letava Whippy had a career-high 11 points and tied her career-high of seven rebounds, and junior Honor Duvall chipped in eight points.
Seniors Krystal Wells and Tamika Guz continue to lead LIU in scoring this season. The two co-captains are averaging an identical 9.8 points per game at this point in the year. In conference games, however, the numbers go up. Guz is averaging 12.0 points per game against NEC teams, along with 5.0 rebounds per game, while Wells is scoring 10.0 points per game in the league, and grabbing a team-high 5.5 rebounds per game.
ALL-TIME SERIES
• This is only the sixth time ever that LIU women's basketball will take on Bryant, who is a full-fledged Division I school and member of the NEC for the first time this year. LIU holds the all-time edge, 3-2.
• The two teams have traded seasons. In 2009-10, LIU went 2-0 against Bryant. In 2010-11, the Bulldogs returned the favor, winning both games that season. And in 2011-12, LIU won the only matchup, 51-41 in the Wellness Center.
FOLLOW THE GAME - LIVE!
• As is the case with every NEC game this season, home or away, FREE live video of the game will be available at www.NECFrontRow.com
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
• Bryant's season has been similar to LIU's in many ways. In addition to a similar overall record (5-12), the Bulldogs are also just coming off their first NEC win of the season, and stand at 1-5 in the league.
• Bryant has had several similar opponents this season including Columbia (W, 68-54), and the regular NEC slate. So far, the Bulldogs have fallen to Quinnipiac, Mount, CCSU and Robert Morris, before beating Wagner last weekend, 65-47.
• The Bulldogs are led by four strong shooters. Naana Ankoma-Mensa leads the team with a 14.4 points per game average, followed by Courtney Schissler (10.9 points per game), Jenniqua Bailey (8.9) and Danielle Douglas (8.2). Ankoma-Mensa is also the team's top rebounder, with an 11.9 rebounds per game average.
2012? FUHGHETABOUDIT!
• Since the calendar year changed, LIU has steadily been improving its team shooting percentage. Since shooting .298 against opponents in Hawaii, the Blackbirds have increased their percentage every single game.
• In the first game in 2013, against Quinnipiac, LIU shot .324. From there, it's risen, in games against Sacred Heart (.367), Wagner (.377), Monmouth (.379) and Fairleigh Dickinson (.424).
• Conversely, the number of team turnovers has also been declining steadily. The team had 21 against Quinnipiac, 18 against Mount and Wagner, and an almost season-low 16 against FDU on MLK Jr. Day.
KRYSTAL-KLEAR KOURT VISION
• Senior Krystal Wells tallied five steals against Monmouth on Jan. 19, the most by any Blackbird this season. In fact, it was the most steals in a game since Dec. 5, 2011, when former LIU standout Kiara Evans had five against Wagner.
BEATING THEM ON THE BOARDS
• Though the Blackbirds haven't been able to convert solid defensive efforts to a win, LIU has managed to out-rebound opponents multiple times this season.
• LIU has out-rebounded opponents 11 times this season, including all four victories. Most recently, the Blackbirds out-rebounded FDU, 45-34.
• LIU is also one of the better rebounding teams in the NEC. The Blackbirds average 16.81 offensive rebounds per game, the most in the league. They're also fourth in the league in defensive rebounds, at 25.94 per game.
MS. ROBINSON'S NEIGHBORHOOD
• Sophomore Kelly Robinson has been controlling the LIU offense at point guard all season long, and has been dishing the ball with more frequency in each game.
• Robinson has 79 assists so far this season, for a 4.94 assists per game average. She currently ranks third in the league in assists, and is fourth in the NEC in assists/turnover ratio.
• Robinson has led LIU in assists in every single game so far this season.
• Robinson had 10 assists in LIU's win over Ohio. The career-high for Robinson was the first time a Blackbird has had 10 assists since Kiara Evans had 13 against SFPA in 2010.
OPENING UP THE OFFENSE
• After scoring a season-high 70 points in a loss to Wagner, and tallying three players in double-digit scoring, the Blackbirds up their game against FDU.
• LIU matched its season high in points (70), and for the first time, had four members of the team score more than 10 points. Senior Tamika Guz led the way with 18 points, followed by Krystal Wells (15), Cleandra Roberts (12) and Letava Whippy (11).
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.