BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- After two weeks on the road, the LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team returns home to the Steinberg Wellness Center this week, to host two games in four days. The Blackbirds welcome Ivy League opponent Yale, Thursday, December 1 at 7 p.m., and then take on Stony Brook, Sunday, December 4 at 2 p.m.
QUICK HITS
- LIU is coming off of two tough losses at the TD Bank Classic in Burlington, Vt. last weekend. After falling to Milwaukee, 88-50, the Blackbirds dropped a close one to NJIT, 50-48.
- Three upperclassmen had strong games against the Highlanders: senior
Shanovia Dove led the Blackbirds with a double-double (15 pts, 10 rebounds, four steals), while redshirt sophomore
Drew Winter added 10 points, four rebounds and three assists. Senior
Brianna Farris added nine points and eight rebounds in the loss.
- Dove leads LIU in scoring so far this season, with an 11.0 points per game average, while freshman
Aja Boyd is averaging 8.0 points per game, and 5.8 rebounds per game. Freshman
Gabrielle Caponegro is the team's top rebounder, pulling down 6.0 boards per game, to go with 3.8 points per game, and a team-high seven steals and six blocks so far this season.
- Yale will take on NEC opponent Wagner, Wednesday, November 30, before coming to the Steinberg Center Thursday night. Entering this week's games, the Bulldogs are 4-2 so far this year, and on a three-game winning streak. Yale beat Vermont at home, 77-48, and has since beaten Illinois State and Holy Cross on the road.
- Junior forward Jen Berkowitz, the current Ivy League Player of the Week, leads Yale, averaging 12.7 points per game, along with 7.5 rebounds per game. Senior guards Lena Munzer (11.7 ppt) and Meghan McIntyre (11.3 ppt) are the other two Yale players averaging more than 10 points per contest. Freshman guard Megan Gorman is the team's top rebounder, averaging 8.2 boards per contest.
- Stony Brook also had a matchup prior to their trip to downtown Brooklyn. The Seawolves will take on St. Bonaventure Wednesday night on the road.
- SB is currently 2-3 so far this season, with two wins in the last week. The Seawolves beat Columbia at home (55-53), and Manhattan on the road (55-50) Thanksgiving week.
- Kori Bayne-Walker leads Stony Brook, with a 13.2 points per game average and 4.4 assists per game, while Elizabeth Manner has 10.4 points per game, and 6.2 rebounds per game to lead the team on the boards.
- Up next, the Blackbirds hit the road once more, for three more non-league games against New York and New Jersey rivals. Head Coach
Stephanie Oliver leads LIU in her return to familiar stomping grounds next Wednesday, December 7, as the Blackbirds will take on Seton Hall at 11:30 a.m.