ERIE, Pa. — The Long Island University women's basketball team (21-10, 14-4 NEC) continued its run through the NEC Women's Basketball Tournament on Thursday night, defeating No. 2 seed Mercyhurst 82-64 on the road in the conference semifinals. 

With the win, LIU reaches its fifth NEC championship game in program history, and the first in the Sharks era of the program. LIU's last appearance in the NEC finals came in the 2009-10 season. 

Having entered Thursday's semifinal after defeating Chicago State University 99-77 in the quarterfinals of the NEC tournament, the Sharks picked up right where they left, jumping out to a 25-16 lead at the end of the first quarter. Freshman Leila Nuñez jumpstarted the Sharks, connecting on three three-pointers in the first 10 minutes of action. 

LIU extended its lead to as many as 18 points in the second quarter, later taking a 45-31 lead into the locker room at halftime. 

While Mercyhurst managed to briefly cut the LIU lead to single digits in third quarter, the Sharks extended their lead to as many as 21 points in the final quarter before claiming their 18-point semifinal win. 

Graduate student Kionna Gaines led LIU with a career-high 24 points, recording her third double-double in as many games. Senior Kadidia Toure (16 points), Nuñez (12), and Humphrey (10) each scored in the double digits, while Toure led LIU with 15 rebounds and three blocks. 

No. 2 seed LIU travels to Hackensack, New Jersey to face No. 1 seed FDU in the NEC championship game on Sunday, March 15, at 12 p.m.  

Sunday's game will be televised on ESPNU, with additional audio coverage will be available on the LIU Sharks Audio Network via the Varsity Network App. The "Voice of the Sharks" Phil Constantino (play-by-play) and Hevynne Bristow (analyst) will be on the call on the LIU Sharks Audio Network.