Box Score
Brooklyn, N.Y. - Long Island University sophomore
Kiara Evans had a banner day as the women’s basketball team defeated local rival St. Francis (N.Y.), 67-57, at the Wellness Center. Evans set a new Long Island single-season assist mark and flirted with a triple-double for the third time this season. She finished with a game-high 18 points.
Long Island (14-9, 8-4 Northeast Conference), playing the Terriers for the second time in four days, benefitted from an 18-3 run in the latter part of the first half. With the score tied, 18-18, Evans sank a pair of free throws to kick start six straight Blackbirds points. After she found a seam and attacked the basket for a layup, Long Island led 24-18.
St. Francis’ Shannon Gannt made a layup of her own in an effort to stop the run, but Evans responded with two more free throws. After a singular free throw from the Terriers’ Tiara Dunson pulled St. Francis within 26-21 with just under nine minutes left in the half, the Blackbirds held the visitors scoreless until the waning seconds of the frame.
Long Island scored the next 10 points, capped off by a whirling jump hook from junior
Chelsi Johnson and an elbow jumper by senior
Connie James. Only after St. Francis made a pair of baskets in the final 16 seconds of the half did the Blackbirds’ 15-point edge get trimmed to 36-25 at the half.
The Terriers got within seven points early in the second stanza when Kim Snauwaert sank a three-pointer, but Long Island ratcheted up the defense and extended its lead to as many as 20 points. The Blackbirds emptied their bench and the inexperience of the reserves on the floor let the Terriers scratch their way back to within 10 points by the close of the contest, but the game was never really within St. Francis’ reach.
Evans entered the game needing three assists to tie Mary Lucas’ 1984-85 mark of 156 assists. The 5-foot-8 transfer from Louisville wasted no time, quickly handing out four dimes before the first media timeout. By the time she was through, Evans had amassed 18 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. She added a steal and only committed one turnover. Evans has 162 assists for the season.
Junior
Heidi Mothershead chipped in 14 points, as did freshman
Tamika Guz, with the latter’s mark standing as a new career high. James finished with 10 points and Johnson closed with four to go along with nine boards.
The Blackbirds outrebounded St. Francis (1-22, 0-12 NEC) by a 55-37 margin, and shot 38 percent from the floor. Amber Lau came off the pine to lead the Terriers with 12 points and Snauwaert collected a team-high eight caroms.
Long Island will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 11 with a visit to Fairfield, Conn., to take on Sacred Heart. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.