BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Jan. 20, 2015) - On Tuesday, the LIU Post women's basketball team used clutch free throw shooting down the stretch to seal a 70-63 win over East Coast Conference rival NYIT at the Pratt Recreation Center in Brookville.

The Pioneers (10-6, 6-2 ECC) were led by the quartet of senior guards Ashley Castle (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Chelsea Williams (Copiague, N.Y.), junior center Nyasia Davis (Rahway, N.J.) and sophomore forward Essence Casey (Huntington Station, N.Y.), all of whom scored in double figures to lead the LIU Post offense.

The two squads battled back and forth throughout most of the first half. With the score tied at 15-all, NYIT's (12-3, 7-1 ECC) Dina Ragab hit a lay-up to give the Bears a 17-15 cushion. On the Pioneers' ensuing possession, Castle drained a jumper to tie it up at 17 apiece. Then, with NYIT up 23-21, the Bears rattled off six straight points to grab a 29-21 lead at the 2:51 mark. LIU Post woul score six of the period's final 10 points, but the visitors brought a 33-27 lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Pioneers refused to go away. After NYIT's Julie Williams hit a three to make it 41-37 with 13:01 to go, Casey netted two lay-ups for four of her 10 points to tie the score at 41-all. The teams would once again trade buckets until Castle hit two consecutive jumpers to give the Pioneers a 51-48 edge. After Shanice Allen went 1-of-2 from the line for NYIT, Davis and Casey scored back-to-back buckets to put the green and gold up 55-49 with 4:32 to go.

With time winding down in regulation, Allen hit a fast-break lay-up with 51 seconds to go to give NYIT a 57-55 lead. But, a foul by Williams sent Castle to the line with a chance to tie it. The senior sank both free throws to tie it at 57-apiece and send the game to overtime.

In the overtime session, Davis opened the scoring with a lay-up, before Williams drained a three to give the Pioneers a 62-57 advantage. Down the stretch, Castle (4-for-4) and Williams (2-for-2) combined for six clutch free throws to seal the win.

Castle finished with 21 points and eight rebounds. Williams added 15 points, nine boards and four blocks, while Davis posted her seventh double-double of the season (14 points, 16 rebounds). Junior forward Kalinka DeRoche (New Haven, Conn.) added 10 rebounds, four blocks and three steals.

The Pioneers' bench outscored the Bears' reserves, 31-14, and were able to hold a 10-6 advantage in fast-break points.

Head Coach Deirdre Moore and the Pioneers are back in action on Friday (Jan. 23), when they head to Amherst to take on Daemen in an ECC battle. The opening tip is slated for 6 p.m.