BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team will be looking to bounce back from a loss in the team's first Northeast Conference game of the season when they host Fairleigh Dickinson in the Steinberg Wellness Center Monday night. The second NEC doubleheader of the season, the women's game will tip-off at 5 p.m., with the men's squads to follow in a 7:30 p.m. matchup.
BLACKBIRD BITS• Most recently, LIU suffered a loss to Bryant Saturday. The Bulldogs (8-4, 1-0 NEC) had the first two baskets of the game, and led wire to wire, despite the Blackbirds making many attempts to take the lead. With the loss, the Blackbirds are now 3-9 overall, 0-1 in the NEC.
• Junior
Sophie Bhasin led LIU with 11 points and seven rebounds, along with two steals.
• Sophomore
Brianna Farris had 12 points in the loss, while sophomore
Shanovia Dove had 10 points, five rebounds, three steals and three assists for LIU.
• Senior
Letava Whippy returned after missing two games to an injury, and had seven points and three rebounds.
ALL-TIME SERIES • This will be the 66th matchup between LIU and FDU women's basketball, in a series that dates back to 1977. The Knights hold the all-time advantage in the season, 38-27, but the Blackbirds have recent history on their side. Last year, LIU won both matchups between the two squads.
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS• Fairleigh Dickinson comes to the Steinberg Wellness Center at 3-8 overall, 0-1 in the NEC. The Knights have lost three straight, including a 82-53 defeat at the hands of CCSU Saturday in the conference opener.
• FDU has wins over Manhattan, Army and Saint Peter's this season. The Knights have two common non-conference opponents with LIU, having lost to NJIT (68-64), and Monmouth (71-66).
• FDU is led by junior guard Kelsey Cruz, who is averaging 18.0 points per game. Cruz had her best game of the season in a loss to Siena last week. The guard had 27 points, shooting 50% from the field.
• Redshirt junior Erika Livermore has returned from ACL surgery last season to be a force for the Knights. The center averages 16.8 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game. Saturday's loss at CCSU snapped a streak of three straight double-doubles for Livermore, and it was also her first game without a block all season. She leads FDU with 33 blocks so far this year.
• Senior point guard Amanda Andrades is third on the team in scoring, with 10.8 points per game, She also leads the team in steals, with 3.4, and averages 6.3 assists per game.