BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Long Island University women's basketball team (3-1, 0-0 NEC) hosts American University (1-2, 0-0 Patriot) on Thursday night, as the Sharks take the floor inside the Steinberg Wellness Center for the second time this winter.
LIU is coming off a 70-56 road win over Delaware State University last Saturday, scoring 29 points in the third quarter to help surge its 14-point win. On the other side of the court, American enters Thursday's game after falling 68-57 at home to Delaware.
Thursday's game will be televised digitally on NEC Front Row, with the "Voice of the Sharks" Phil Constantino (play-by-play) and Hevynne Bristow (analyst) on the call.
Quick Facts
-AMERICAN HISTORY: Thursday's matchup between LIU and American will be the first meeting of the programs in the Sharks era, though the team have met once before; a neutral site matchup in the 1990-91 season, won by the Eagles.
-HOME OPENER: The Sharks dominated in Tuesday's 89-27 defeat of Kean, winning their first game at home this winter. Senior Kadidia Toure led all scorers with 20 points, her second 20-point night of the season. All Sharks that entered the game finished with at least one basket scored.
-STRONG START: LIU has opened the 2025-26 season with a 3-1 mark, its best beginning to a season since the 2011-12 campaign. The Sharks opened the year with a 75-60 win over Northeastern, and after falling 79-72 on the road to South Florida, bounced back with wins over Kean (89-27) and Delaware State (70-56).
-NEC AWARDS: Kadidia Toure was named the NEC Co-Player of the Week on Nov. 10, and sophomore Laura Molnarova received NEC Prime Performer honors. Toure also received Prime Performer honors on Nov. 17.
-RETURNING TO THE FLOOR: The Sharks return one starter this winter, junior guard Janessa Williams. The Lake Worth, Florida native started all 30 games for the Sharks last winter, averaging 12 points, 7.3 rebounds, and one assist per game in the 2024-25 season.
-NEW FACES: LIU will feature plenty of new faces on the court this season, including transfers in junior Kadidia Toure (Arizona State, James Madison), senior Isabella Tañedo (Utah State), sophomore Laura Molnarova (JMU), Kionna Gaines (Clemson, Auburn, Kennesaw State), graduate student Janiya Reed (Xavier (La.)), graduate student Hannah Humphrey (East Texas A&M, UT Arlington, Blinn), and Solangelei Akridge (Alabama State). The Sharks also bring in five freshmen, as Leila Nuñez, Saran Diallo Toure, Kennady Gordon, Camille Wiley, and Carmela Nuñez all join the program.
-LEADING THE WAY: LIU hired head coach Neil Harrow in April 2025 after recent stops at James Madison University and in the WNBA with the Los Angeles Sparks. In three seasons as the Associate Head Coach at JMU (2022-2025), Harrow helped the Dukes to three Sun Belt Conference championships and one NCAA Tournament appearance.
