BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team is in the midst of a four-game series with the Pennsylvania contingent of the Northeast Conference. The Blackbirds hosted Saint Francis U., Saturday, February 7, and now take on Robert Morris, Monday, February 9 at 7 p.m. in the Steinberg Wellness Center.
The Blackbirds will then turn around and hit the road to take on those two teams next weekend, playing at Saint Francis U., Saturday, February 14 at 4 p.m., and at Robert Morris, Monday, February 16 at 7 p.m.
BLACKBIRD BITS• LIU Brooklyn women's basketball head coach
Gail Striegler earned her 200th career coaching victory Saturday afternoon, as the Blackbirds beat Saint Francis U., 84-79 to improve to 7-15 on the season and 4-7 in the Northeast Conference.
• The game was a messy one, as the two teams combined for a total of 61 turnovers and 62 fouls were called, in a contest that lasted two and a half hours. The foul calls proved to be crucial in LIU's victory, as Saint Francis (3-19, 2-9 NEC) shot 57.1 percent from the free throw line to LIU's 78 percent, in what would be the major difference in the game
• Junior
Jolanna Ford had a career-high 25 points, along with seven rebounds and three steals. She shot 50 percent from the field, and went 13-for-15 from the free throw line in the win.
• Senior
Letava Whippy had 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven steals, for her second double-double of the season.
• Junior
Sophie Bhasin had 23 points and seven rebounds, including going a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line.
• LIU out-rebounded the Red Flash, 51-42.
ALL-TIME SERIES • Robert Morris has the all-time advantage in the series, 40-16. The Colonials have won the last six straight, and 14 of the last 15 meetings, including a 3-0 sweep last season.
• Last year in Brooklyn, RMU won, 66-52. The Blackbirds then fell in Moon Township, 79-43, and in the first round of the NEC Tournament, 65-49.
SCOUTING THE COLONIALS• Robert Morris is coming into Brooklyn on a hot streak. At 11-11 overall and 9-2 in the NEC, the Colonials have won eight-straight games. They recently moved into sole possession of second place in conference standings.
• Most recently, the Colonials registered back-to-back wins over Fairleigh Dickinson. RMU beat the Knights 71-58 at home, before hitting the road to beat FDU 69-68 in New Jersey Saturday.
• Robert Morris's only conference losses came early on in the schedule, and both on the road. The Colonials dropped the second game of the NEC slate at Saint Francis U, 71-68, and then a road match at league-leading CCSU, 63-46, in the third game of the year.
• Robert Morris is a strong defensive team. They are holding opponents to just a .390 field goal percentage per game, the best in the conference, and are second in the NEC in blocked shots, swatting away an average of 3.89 per game.
• Sophomore Anna Nicole Stamolamprou is the team's offensive leader. She is currently second in the conference in three-point field goals per game, averaging 2.56 per contest. Stamolamprou also leads the team in scoring, with 15.3 points per game.
• Freshman forward Megan Smith is next, averaging 9.1 points per game, while junior guard Ashley Ravelli added 8.6 points per game.
• Freshman center Mikalah Mulrain is second in the conference, averaging 1.83 blocks per game.