BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team opens December by hosting local opponent Rider, Tuesday, December 2 at 7 p.m. The Blackbirds will be looking to snap a four-game losing skid against the Broncs, and get a victory at home before hitting the road to take on Columbia and NJIT. BLACKBIRD BITS • The Blackbirds had 13 points from junior forward Jolanna Ford, and a season-high 12 points from senior guard Letava Whippy in Saturday's Turkey Classic match-up in the Steinberg Wellness Center, but LIU saw Rhode Island pull away late in the second half to take the win, 66-49. URI shot over 50 percent from the field in the win.• And Friday, Ford scored a season-high 17 points and junior Sophie Bhasin added 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals, but the Blackbirds dropped a hard-fought 71-66 decision to La Salle.
• LIU finished third at the Turkey Classic, behind champions Rhode Island and second-place La Salle. Towson finished fourth. Ford was named to the All-Tournament Team for her efforts over two games. ALL-TIME SERIES
• Rider holds the all time lead in the series, 16-2, including winning the last 12 straight. The last time the two teams met, in 2013, Rider took the win, 62-48, with then-junior Lashay Banks scoring 21 points for the Broncs.
SCOUTING THE BRONCS
• Rider comes into Tuesday's game with a 1-4 overall record, having notched their first victory of the season in overtime at Old Dominion, 59-56. Early in the season, the Broncs have suffered losses against Towson (53-51) and St. Francis Brooklyn (71-60).
• Rider brings back nine letterwinners from a squad that advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference semifinals last season.
• Rider is led offensively by sophomore guard Robin Perkins, who puts up 13.8 points per game, and 4.4 rebounds per game. Defensively, sophomore center jula Duggan leads the way, with 9.8 ppg and 9.4 rebounds per game. She has also recorded the team's only double-double this season, with 26 points and 11 rebounds in a loss to Towson earlier this winter.