Box Score
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball had a resounding win on Staten Island Saturday, as the Blackbirds beat Wagner, 61-41 in the Spiro Sports Center. LIU was led by senior Tamika Guz, who tied her career high with 21 points, while junior Cleandra Roberts had 18 points for the Blackbirds in the win.
The game started close, as the first 12 minutes saw the score tied four times and the lead change hands eight times. Wagner had a four point lead on the Blackbirds when LIU began to dominate the game.
Down 14-10, LIU's first run was sparked by a fast break layup by Cleandra Roberts. It was the first basket in an 8-0 run by the Blackbirds. Sophomore Letava Whippy made a layup to tie the game 14-14 with 8:14 on the clock, and gave the Blackbirds the lead a minute later, with a steal and the made layup at 7:34.
A jumper by sophomore Honor Duvall put the score at 20-14 LIU, with 5:48 left in the first half, and the Blackbirds would not trail again. Three made free throws by Guz in the final two minutes of the half gave LIU the 29-19 lead heading into the break.
Coming out of the break, LIU continued to push the gas, scoring five unasnwerd points in the first three minutes. Guz hit a jumper and senior Krystal Wells made her first three of the game to put LIU up 15, and force Wagner to call a timeout.
The Seahawks staged a brief rally midway through the second half, as they scored five unanswered points to close the lead to 39-31 at the 13 minute mark, but Duvall hit two free throws, and Guz made a layup two minutes later to widen the lead back up to 12, and silence Wagner's momentum.
In the final five minutes of the game, the Blackbirds outscored the Seahawks 11-0, taking a 61-37 lead with 1:32 on the clock. Wagner would score twice more to close the final tally to 20, as LIU won, 61-41.
With the win, LIU is now 6-20 overall, and 3-12 in the NEC, while Wagner falls to 2-24 on the season, and 1-14 in the NEC.
Senior Tamika Guz tied her career-high with 21 points, and brought down nine rebounds. Junior Cleandra Roberts had 18 points and six rebounds, while senior Krystal Wells had 10 points. Sophomore Letava Whippy added eight rebounds, seven points, four assists and two steals.
Up next for the Blackbirds is the final road trip of the season. LIU will head south to take on Mount St. Mary's, Monday, February 25 at 7 p.m. in Emmitsburg, Md.
NOTES: LIU had only six turnovers in the first half, a season low… the Blackbirds scored 23 points off Wagner's 19 turnovers… LIU held the Seahawks to just 41 points, as no member of the team scored in double digits… LIU shot 43% from the field, and 63% from the free throw line… LIU outscored Wagner in the paint, 38-12, and out-rebounded the Seahawks, 42-29.