FAIRFIELD, CONN. – The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team will look to continue its winning ways this weekend, as the Blackbirds head north to square off with league-leading Sacred Heart in the Pitt Center, Saturday, January 28 at 1 p.m.
QUICK HITS
- The Blackbirds (3-17, 2-6 NEC) are coming off their second Northeast Conference win of the season, having beaten Wagner at home Monday, 69-64. LIU snapped a six-game losing skid behind the powerful play of freshman forward Aja Boyd. Boyd had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Blackbirds, leading a trio of Blackbirds that scoring in double figures. Graduate student Dionne Coe had a season-high 19 points along with four assists, and senior Shanovia Dove chipped in 17 points for LIU.
- Boyd was named the NEC Rookie of the Week for her play over the past seven days. It was the first weekly career honor for the center, and the first for an LIU Brooklyn women's basketball player since 2013. Boyd delivered her best two-game stretch yet, shooting well over 50 percent from the floor while nearly averaging a double-double during the Blackbirds' 1-1 week. Leading LIU Brooklyn in both scoring and rebounding, the freshman forward averaged 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest against a pair of local rivals. Making more than half her attempts in each of the two games, she accounted for a team-high .536 field goal percentage. Boyd matched her season-high scoring total to help the Blackbirds slam the brakes on a six-game slide. The rookie post player netted 18 points and secured eight caroms in Monday's 69-64 victory over Wagner. Boyd provided all of the scoring during an 8-0 run that turned a one-point deficit into a 59-52 advantage with 1:08 left in the fourth quarter. Two days earlier, Boyd accounted for a game-high 17 points and 11 rebounds at Fairleigh Dickinson. It was her second career double-double. The native Virginian ranks second on the team in scoring (10.5 ppg) and first in rebounding (6.4 rpg) this season. She has scored in double figures during seven of her last eight outings.
- Sacred Heart is the team to beat this season. Tabbed the preseason favorites in the conference, they have lived up to the pick thus far, going 7-1 in league action, and 10-9 overall. The Pioneers have won the last three meetings between the two programs, including both last season.
- SHU is coming off a close win over Mount St. Mary's Monday. The Pioneers needed five points in the final 30 seconds, including a late three from Shelby Hickey to beat the Mountaineers, 49-45. SHU also needed an overtime period to beat Wagner Saturday, as the Seahawks forced the extra time before falling, 62-52.
- Redshirt senior Hannah Kimmel leads SHU this season, averaging 14.7 points per game, while senior Adaysha Williams adds 11.1 points per game. Sophomore Katherine Haines rounds out the top scorers, adding 11.0 points per contest.
- Up next, the Blackbirds travel to New Britain, Connecticut, to take on Central Connecticut State, Monday, January 30 at 7 p.m.