BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team wraps up its non-conference schedule and the 2014 calendar year this Tuesday, December 30, as the Blackbirds will take on CSU Bakersfield, in a game slated to start at 10 p.m. ET.
BLACKBIRD BITS • The Blackbirds had a three-game winning streak snapped at Long Beach State Sunday afternoon. LIU saw an 18-point first half lead evaporate, as Long Beach State shot 53 percent from the field in the second half to beat the Blackbirds, 71-63. California native
Sophie Bhasin had 19 points to lead LIU, while freshman
DeAngelique Waithe had a breakout game, scoring a career-high 11 points, and grabbing a career-high nine rebounds to lead LIU on the boards.
• The 40 points by LIU in the first half was the most by the squad in a first half this season
• LIU's 22 point lead at halftime was the biggest lead any team has had over Long Beach State this season.
• LIU out-rebounded LBSU 31-17 in the first half, and 48-40 in the game.
• Junior
Shanice Vaughan had seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.
•
Drew Winter and
Ashley Brown each finished with nine points in the loss.
• Up next, the Blackbirds return home to Brooklyn, to start the Northeast Conference season. LIU will host Bryant, Saturday, January 5 at 2 p.m., in the first game of a doubleheader with the men's team.
ALL-TIME SERIES • This is the first meeting between LIU Brooklyn and CSU Bakersfield women's basketball.
SCOUTING THE ROADRUNNERS• CSU Bakersfield comes into Tuesday's game 9-3 overall, including a perfect 7-0 at home this season.
• The 'Runners are coming off a come-from-behind win over Hawai'i, 74-71 on December 23. They also have wins over UNLV, UC Irvine, Fresno State and Arizona this season, with losses coming to three tough teams in Arizona State, Omaha and No.12/15 Nebraska (54-45).
• CSUB lost one of their top players early in the season - senior guard Dajy Vines, who was averaging 15.0 points per game, tore her ACL just five games into the season, and is out for the year.
• The 'Runners are led by four upperclassmen who are putting up big numbers. Senior guard Tyonna Outland leads the way as CSUB's go-to player. Outland is averaging 17.8 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game. Senior guard Brooklynn Hinkens is also averaging double-digits, with 11.1 points per game.
• Junior forward Batabe Zempare is also a major contributor, as she averages 9.6 points per game, and a team-high 9.6 rebounds per game. And junior guard Alyssa Shannon adds 9.1 points per game, along with leading the team with 5.8 assists per game.