BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Dec. 3, 2014) - The reigning East Coast Conference Player of the Year, senior guard Chelsea Williams (Copiague, N.Y.), opened ECC play with a career-best 32-point effort Wednesday, as the LIU Post women's basketball team took down Bridgeport, 75-69, in the Pioneers' first league contest of the 2014-15 campaign.

With LIU Post (4-2, 1-0 ECC) leading 18-15 with just over 12 minuntes to go in the first half, Bridgeport (1-4, 0-1 ECC) went on a 20-2 run, taking a 35-20 lead after Shannon Holt hit a lay-up with just under four minutes to go.

The Pioneers responded though with a 12-3 run to close out the half, but the hosts brought a 38-32 lead into the break. During the spurt, Williams and senior guard Ashley Castle (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored three points apiece. Junior center Nyasia Davis (Rahway, N.J.), junior guard Quanisha Ratley (Brooklyn, N.Y.), and sophomore guard Essence Casey (Huntington Station, N.Y.) had two points each. Ratley finished the first half with nine points, while Castle added eight points and three assists. Williams chipped in seven points.

In the second half, Williams went off. The senior opened the scoring with a three-ball to pull LIU Post within three (38-35) just 15 seconds into the half. Four minutes later, Williams drained another trey, this time cutting the Pioneers' deficit to six (47-41). After freshman guard Khea Gibbs (Norwalk, Conn.) hit two free throws between two Bridgeport threes, Williams hit back-to-back three-pointers to close the gap to four (53-49).

Then, with under 11 minutes to go in regulation, Davis hit a lay-up to tie it at 55-all. After Jenna Hoffman converted a layup to make it 57-55 in favor of Bridgeport, Williams hit yet another three, giving the visitors a one-point edge (58-57). A Williams free throw with 5:19 to go gave LIU Post a lead they wouldn't give up. The Pioneers finished the game on an 11-6 run, six of which came on Williams free throws down the stretch.

Williams finished 8-of-20 from the floor, including 5-of-9 from behind the arc. The senior was also 11-for-14 from the free-throw line. Ratley added 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three. Davis contributed 13 points and nine rebounds. The junior was 6-of-11 from the field.

Next up for the Pioneers and Head Coach Deirdre Moore is a match-up at ECC foe Dowling on Saturday (Dec. 6). The opening tip is scheduled for noon from Oakdale, N.Y.