BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team is home for the final weekend of the regular season, hosting one of the top teams in the Northeast Conference. LIU (8-19, 6-10 NEC) will welcome second-place Bryant (15-12, 12-4 NEC) for Senior Day, Saturday, February 27 at 2 p.m. The Blackbirds will honor their four seniors who are playing for the final weekend in the Steinberg Wellness Center:
Angelia Allen,
Ashley Brown,
Jolanna Ford and
Shanice Vaughan will be honored prior to tip-off Saturday.
LAST TIME OUT/PLAYOFF PICTURE• The Blackbirds are coming off of two losses on the road last weekend, and are looking to secure a spot in the NEC Tournament. Currently tied with Mount St. Mary's in seventh place, the Blackbirds need to win one of the two remaining games to earn a spot, and need St. Francis Brooklyn to lose one of the remaining games as well.
• Most recently, the Blackbirds suffered a 69-53 defeat at the hands of Robert Morris Monday night in the Sewall Center. Junior
Shanovia Dove led all scorers with 19 points, including going 9-for-11 from the free throw line.Saturday, the Blackbirds fell to Saint Francis U., 72-64.
ALL-TIME SERIES• Bryant leads the all time series between the two teams, 8-3, having won the last six straight. LIU hasn't beaten the Bulldogs since 2012.
• Earlier this season, LIU fell to Bryant in the Chace Athletic Center, 63-55.
• The Blackbirds were led by senior
Shanice Vaughan's 21 points, including eight in the final three minutes of the game.
• Senior
Jolanna Ford added 10 points and nine rebounds, while junior
Shanovia Dove had 10 points and four rebounds.
• Breanna Rucker led Bryant with 25 points and 12 rebounds.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS• Bryant enters the weekend at 15-12 overall, and 12-4 in the Northeast Conference. The Bulldogs are in second place in the league, and have clinched home court advantage for the first rounds of the post-season tournament.
• Most recently, Bryant is coming off a loss to league-leader Sacred Heart, 64-60 on Monday.
• The Bulldogs are led by senior forward Brianna Rucker, who is the only player in the conference to average a double-double. Rucker is the team's leading scorer, putting up 15.5 points per game, and she's also the team's leading rebounder, with a 10.9 rebounds per game average.
• Bryant has two other players averaging in double-digits: senior guard Tiersa Winder is averaging 13.0 points per game, while sophomore guard Ivory Bailey addes 11.6 points per game