BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team opens Northeast Conference play this weekend at the Steinberg Wellness Center, as the Blackbirds (3-8) will host the Bryant Bulldogs (7-4), Saturday, January 3 at 2 p.m. The game, the first of the NEC slate for both teams, will be the first of a doubleheader, with Bryant and LIU men tipping off at 4:30 p.m.
BLACKBIRD BITS• LIU fell victim to a strong second half by the Road Runners Tuesday night, as CSU Bakersfield beat the Blackbirds 84-53 in the Icardo Center. CSUB senior Tyonna Outland had 22 of her 26 points in the second half to lead her team to the win.
• Junior
Sophie Bhasin led LIU with 13 points, while classmate
Brianna Farris had 10 points.
• Sophomore
Mercedes Harris led LIU with seven rebounds in just nine minutes of play
• Tyonna Outland finished with 26 points to lead CSUB, while Batabe Zempare had 19 points and 15 rebounds, and Alyssa Shannon scored 16 points.
• The Road Runners outscored LIU in the paint, 44-24, and scored 29 points off LIU turnovers.
ALL-TIME SERIES • This weekend's game will mark the ninth time the two teams have faced off in women's basketball, with Bryant holding the 5-3 advantage. The Bulldogs have won three straight against the Blackbirds, including both games in 2013-14.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS• Bryant comes to the Steinberg Wellness Center with the best overall record so far this season, at 7-4 overall. Most recently, the Bulldogs took down New Hampshire, 57-54.
• The Bulldogs have also beaten Maine (65-52) and Brown, but suffered a loss to Rhode Island, 60-56 before Christmas.
• All five of Bryant's starters are averaging in double-digits in scoring and rank in the top 16 in the conference in scoring, so head coach Mary Burke has had little use for her bench this season.
• Senior guard Jenniqua Bailey averages 14.6 points per game, and 5.7 assists per game. Junior forward Breanna Rucker also averages 14.6 points per game, and a team-high 10.7 rebounds per game.
• Rucker has tallied nine double-doubles so far this season, ranking her first in conference in the category, and sixth in the nation overall. She is also 27th in the nation in offensive rebounds per game.
• Junior guard Tiersa Winder (13.7 ppg), freshman guard Ivory Bailey (11.9 ppg) and sophomore center Morgan Olander (10.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg) all add major points in their minutes for Bryant.
• All five starters average over 30 minutes per game for the Bulldogs.
• Bryant leads the NEC in offensive rebounds per game, rebounding margin, and scoring offense so far this season.