Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Video
NEW BRITAIN, CONN. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team hit the road this weekend, heading north to New Britain, Conn. The Blackbirds will take on Central Connecticut State, Monday, February 10 at 7 p.m., in a match-up that has playoff implications. Heading into the final four weeks of the regular season, CCSU and LIU are tied for eighth place in the Northeast Conference, in what will be the final playoff spot. All 10 teams have a shot to make the post-season tournament, and a lot of movement is expected in the standings in the next 30 days.
As is the case with every conference game this season, the matchup will be streamed live at www.NECFrontRow.com
Last time LIU and CCSU met, the Blackbirds earned their first Northeast Conference win of the year, beating Central Connecticut State, 60-51. Sophomore Sophie Bhasin lit it up in the second half for LIU, scoring 17 of her 22 points in the final 20 minutes of the game, helping hold off the CCSU rally, and propel the Blackbirds to victory. Bhasin led all scorers with 22 points, including going 9-for-10 from the free throw line, along with eight rebounds. Senior Cleandra Roberts had 12 points and six rebounds in the win, while senior Fanny Cavallo added nine points and four rebounds. Junior Kelly Robinson had seven points and three assists, while Aleisha Myers added six points, and junior Letava Whippy had four points, four rebounds and three assists.
The Blackbirds are coming off a 69-60 loss to Mount St. Mary's in the Steinberg Wellness Center Saturday afternoon. Roberts led all players with 23 points, while Bhasin chipped in 13. Cavallo was a defensive force, as she had 10 rebounds and three blocks, while Whippy filled the box score with five points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
ALL-TIME SERIES
• LIU has the all-time advantage 16-11, including two of the last three match-ups. Most recently, the Blackbirds beat CCSU at home, 60-51 in January.
SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS
• Since falling to the Blackbirds, Central Connecticut has notched conference wins over Fairleigh Dickinson (72-67) and St. Francis Brooklyn (71-66 in OT). But the Blue Devils will be looking to stop a four-game skid when they host the Blackbirds, as they've suffered losses to Mount St. Mary's (64-62 and 69-55), St. Francis Brooklyn (71-50), and most recently, Bryant, 81-50.
• Senior Jessica Babe continues to lead the Blue Devils in scoring, averaging 12.9 points per game, and rebounds per game (6.3). Lauren Arbogast is next on the squad, scoring 10.6 points per game.
• In the game against LIU, junior Kaley Watras was the only CCSU player to reach double-digit points. She finished with 10, while sophomore Kayla Miller had nine points, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal.