Glidden led the Skyhawks with a career-high 26 points tonight (PHOTO BY Ryan Feeney) |
Austin's 25 points leads Sharks to NEC win
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (February 16, 2023) – Long Island University shot over 53-percent from the field and took advantage of turnovers to secure a 78-72 victory over Stonehill College in Northeast Conference women's basketball action at Steinberg Wellness Center tonight.
Junior Ashley Austin led LIU to a second-straight win with 25 points, including 17 in the first half, on 10-of-18 shooting, with four assists. Sophomore Emaia O'Brien added 17 points off the bench on 5-of-7 shooting, canning both three-pointers and all five free-throw attempts off the bench, while senior Cristina Bermejo contributed 16 points, three rebounds, four assists and six steals.
Fifth-year Sophie Glidden scored 20 of her career-high 26 points in the second half, finishing 11-for-16 from the floor, with nine rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots. She was 8-for-10 from the floor in the second half to lead a Stonehill team that shot 50-percent (15-for-30) after halftime. Postgrad Maddie Loder added 15 points, connecting on 3-of-6 three-pointers, with a season-high six assists, while freshman Melissa Whitmore scored a season-best 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting, marking her third-straight double-figure scoring game, to go with two assists.
LIU finished shooting 53.6-percent from the field and took advantage of a 22-10 scoring margin in points off turnovers. Stonehill led by five (15-10) after a Glidden layup with 3:43 remaining in the first quarter and then carried a two-point edge (19-17) into the second. Barmejo opened the second quarter with a three to push LIU in front and Austin scored the next five, including a three for a six-point lead (25-19) after three-minutes.
Whitmore reached double-figures for the third-straight game, netting a season-high 14 points for the Skyhawks (PHOTO BY Ryan Feeney) |
Loder buried a three to push Stonehill back in front (31-29), but needed a Whitmore layup with 11-seconds left before halftime to head into the intermission even (33-33). LIU used a 16-4 run early in the third quarter to open a 12-point lead (51-39) on a Barmejo layup with 3:47 remaining in the frame. Stonehill outscored the Sharks 11-4 over the remainder of the frame, with Glidden scoring all 11, to close to within five (55-50) heading to the fourth.
LIU reclaimed an 11-point cushion (63-52) after three free-throws from O'Brien, but Stonehill responded with seven-straight points, five by Whitmore, to pull back within four (63-59) with 6:38 to go. The Skyhawks could get no closer, with the Sharks holding steady with a key three from Austin and 6-of-8 shooting from the free-throw line in the last minute to seal the win.
Noteworthy
- LIU turned the ball over just eight times, compared to 17 for Stonehill.
- Stonehill posted a 34-25 rebounding advantage.
- Glidden posted the second 20-point game of her career, surpassing her previous career-best of 20 points at Central Connecticut State on January 2.
- Whitmore's season-best 14 points is her third-straight double-figure scoring game.
- Stonehill dished out 26 assists on its 28 baskets tonight, totaling 20-plus assists for the third-straight game.
- Tonight marked Stonehill's final road game of its inaugural Division I season and will wrap up the year with three at Merkert Gym.
Up Next
Stonehill (7-19, 3-10 NEC) is right back in action on Saturday, when it hosts Central Connecticut State University for its Play 4 Kay Game at Merkert Gymnasium at 2 p.m. LIU (5-20, 3-10 NEC) visits Saint Francis (Pa.) University on Saturday at 7 p.m.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
