BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Long Island University women's basketball team (20-10, 14-4 NEC) erupted from beyond the three-point arc in its wire-to-wire win over No. 6 seed Chicago State University in the quarterfinals of the NEC Women's Basketball Tournament on Monday night, defeating the Cougars 99-77 in Brooklyn. 

Graduate student Hannah Humphrey got the ball rolling early for the Sharks, connecting on a three-pointer on LIU's first possession of the game. LIU made six three-point field goals in the first quarter, half of which were by Humphrey. Graduate student Kionna Gaines, junior Solangelei Akridge, and freshman Leila Nuñez joined in making shots from deep to give LIU a 32-17 lead after the first 10 minutes of action. 

The Sharks didn't falter in Monday's second quarter, burying eight more triples to build a 64-41 halftime lead. At halftime, Humphrey was 5-5 from the field with four made three-pointers, leading LIU with 17 first-half points. Kadidia Toure (16 points), Gaines (11), and Nuñez (11) also scored in double figures in the first half. 

LIU maintained a steady 20-point lead throughout the second half, eventually running away with a 99-77 win over the Cougars. The 99 points scored are the most in the Sharks era of the program, surpassing the previous best of 89 against Kean University earlier this season.  

Humphrey led LIU with 27 points, while Toure (26) and Gaines (23) also netted 20-plus points. Akridge (12) and Nuñez (11) also finished in double figures. Toure recorded her 14th double-double of the season with 16 rebounds, while Gaines notched her second double-double in as many games with 10 rebounds. 

LIU returns to the court on Thursday, March 12, when it travels to face No. 2 seed Mercyhurst University at 7 p.m. in the semifinals of the NEC Women's Basketball Tournament.