BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team will look to continue its hot streak this weekend, as the Blackbirds, coming off two straight wins, host the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Sunday, December 21 at 1 p.m. in the Steinberg Wellness Center.
LIU saw four players score in double figures Sunday afternoon, and junior
Shanice Vaughan had a near triple-double, as the Blackbirds beat the Bison, 83-74 in the Steinberg Wellness Center.
Junior
Jolanna Ford (15 points), senior
Letava Whippy (12 points), sophomore
Shanovia Dove (13 points) and junior
Sophie Bhasin (12 points) all scored in the double digits, while Vaughan had 11 rebounds, nine points and nine assists, in a near triple double. Sophomore
Brianna Farris was also a key contributor, as she went 3-for-4 from behind the arc, for nine points in the win.
It was the second-straight win for LIU, who improve to 2-6 on the season, and it was one of the best offensive outputs for the Blackbirds. LIU shot 42 percent from the field and 43 percent from behind the arc, both season highs for the squad. LIU also had 17 team steals and four blocks on defense, both top numbers for the season so far.
ALL-TIME SERIES • The Bulls and the Blackbirds have met twice prior to Sunday afternoon, with each team taking one win away so far. The first time the two teams met was March of 1976, when LIU took the win, 64-43, beating the Bulls to win the Division II State Tournament.
• Buffalo holds the most recent win, from December of 2011. Back then, the Bulls pulled out a 62-60 win over the Blackbirds.
SCOUTING THE BULLS • Buffalo comes to New York City with a 5-3 overall record. Before coming to Brooklyn, the Bulls will make a pit-stop in the Bronx, taking on Manhattan Friday night.
• Prior to Friday's game, Buffalo is riding a three-game winning streak, having beaten Illinois State (68-60), Cornell (65-58), and St. Bonaventure (51-44).
• Buffalo has four players averaging in double-digits, and will prove to be a tough offense for LIU to stop.
• Sophomore forward Alexus Malone leads the way for the Bulls, averaging 13.1 points per game, along with 10.0 rebounds per game. Monday, she had her fifth double-double of the season, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, to lead Buffalo to its first win over the Bonnies since 2006-07.
• Junior guard Mackenzie Loesing averages 11.5 points per game, and is second on the team with 17 steals so far this season. Senior forward Kristen Sharkey also averages 11.5 points per game, along with a team-high 19 steals, and 6.8 rebounds per game.
• Senior center Christa Baccas is also a clutch player for the Bulls, as she averages 10.5 points per game, 8.0 rebounds per game, and has a team-high 13 blocks.