Brookville, N.Y. - Junior Mikaiya Moore drilled a career-high four three pointers to lead the LIU Post women's basketball team past Roberts Wesleyan College, 74-70 inside the Pratt Recreation Center during the ECC Women's Basketball Championship First Round on Wednesday, March 6.
Moore posted a team-best 20 points to go with seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. Moore tallied 18 of her 20 points during the second half, helping the Pioneers overcome a six-point halftime deficit (33-27) to reach the semifinal round of the ECC postseason tournament for the second-consecutive season.
Redshirt-junior Taylah Hudson and graduate student Sasha Patterson added 12 points, with Patterson grabbing a team-best eight rebounds. LIU Post drilled 10 three-point baskets for the seventh time this season and shot 41-percent (26-44) overall from the field. The Green and Gold outrebounded the visiting Redhawks by a 39-32 margin, including 17 offensive rebounds.
After trailing by six at the half, Moore hit her first triple of the evening just nine seconds into the third quarter to pull the Pioneers within three points (33-30). Moore added another jumper and Hudson hit a triple of her own to give LIU Post a 35-33 advantage after an 8-0 run to begin the stanza. After Roberts Wesleyan level the game on the following possession, Moore hit another three-point jumper to give LIU Post the lead again at 38-35. Later in the period, Moore hit her third shot from beyond the arc during the quarter, and juniors Dominique Williams and Asia Turner hit three-pointers late to give LIU Post a 51-48 advantage after three quarters.
Moore put home her final three-pointer of the night to give LIU Post a seven-point advantage (58-51) with 7:16 to play. The Redhawks chipped away to make it 62-61 with four minutes to play, but could never level the score. Redshirt-junior Robyn Francis put the game away for good with a three-pointer from the right wing with 43 seconds to play to put LIU Post ahead by four points (69-65) and Hudson went 4-for-4 at the free-throw line during the final minute to help lift LIU Post into the semifinal round.
The Pioneers will travel to championship host site, Harvey Hubble Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Bridgeport on Saturday, March 9. LIU Post will take on No. 1 seed Saint Thomas Aquinas College at 12:00 p.m.
Provided by the LIU Post Sports Information Department.
