FAIRFIELD, CONN. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team will play its first of two road games this week, hitting the road to take on Sacred Heart, Monday, February 8 at 7 p.m. The Blackbirds (7-15, 5-6 NEC) will face off with the Pioneers (11-11, 9-2 NEC) exactly one week after the two teams met for the first time this season.
LAST TIME OUT• The Blackbirds are coming off winning their second game of the season in the Steinberg Wellness Center Saturday afternoon, defeating Northeast Conference foe Mount St. Mary's for the second time this year, 53-50. The game was closely contested from the first whistle, as neither team ever led by more than five points, and the lead changed hands 16 times.
• Senior
Shanice Vaughan led LIU with 16 points, along with six rebounds, and a team-high three assists and three steals. Junior
Brianna Farris added 13 points, while junior
Shanovia Dove contributed 12 points in her first game back from injury. Sophomore
DeAngelique Waithe led LIU on the boards with 11 rebounds, along with two steals.
ALL-TIME SERIES• The Pioneers lead the all-time series, 18-15, in a rivalry that dates back to 1997, when Sacred Heart was still a DII school.
• Earlier this season, Sacred Heart had the win, putting the ball in LIU's court. Just seven days ago, LIU dropped a 62-53 decision to the Pioneers.
• LIU senior
Shanice Vaughan led all scorers with 23 points, including shooting a career-high 3-for-4 from behind the arc. Junior
Brianna Farris had 14 points in the win, while senior
Jolanna Ford had 10 rebounds. Sophomore
Stylz Sanders added eight points, five rebounds and four assists in the loss. Sacred Heart was led by 18 points from Hannah Kimmel.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS• Sacred Heart has improved to 11-11 overall, and 9-2 in the NEC since coming to Brooklyn last weekend. Saturday, the Pioneers had a 63-55 win over SFBK to complete the season sweep of the Terriers.
• The Pioneers are led by junior guard/forward Hannah Kimmel, who leads the team in both points per game (16.8) and rebounds per game (7.8). But three other starters contribute significant points, including senior forward Alissa Tarssi, one of the best shooters in the nation this season. Tarssi leads the NEC and is 16th in the nation, shooting .549 from the floor. She averages 11.4 points per game, and 7.4 rebounds per game. Junior guard Adaysha Williams adds 9.4 points per game and 3.2 assists per game, while senior guard Kelcey Castro is averaging 9.8 ppg.