BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Feb. 11, 2015) - Behind a game-high 23 points from senior guard Chelsea Williams (Copiague, N.Y.), the LIU Post women's basketball team won its third-straight East Coast Conference game, defeating Mercy, 72-59, at the Pratt Recreation Center in Brookville.

As a team, the Pioneers (14-8, 10-4 ECC) shot 40.3 percent (27-of-67) from the floor and held Mercy (8-14, 2-13 ECC) to 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the field, including a 23.1 percent (3-of-13) clip from three-point range.

In the first 20 minutes, Mercy opened the scoring, but it was all Pioneers thereafter. LIU Post went on a 20-2 run in the game's first six-plus minutes. Later in the opening session, junior guard Jalyn Brown's (Riverhead, N.Y.) jumper with 3:05 to go before the break gave the green and gold a 21-point advantage (37-16). Fellow junior guard Quanisha Ratley (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added a fast-break lay-up on the ensuing Pioneer possession to give the hosts their largest first-half lead at 23 (39-16). Mercy would end the half on a 10-2 run, but LIU Post took a 41-26 lead into the break.

Williams and Brown both finished the first half with nine points. Junior forward Kalinka DeRoche (New Haven, Conn.) added eight points and four rebounds. The Pioneers were 17-of-37 (45.9 percent) from the floor in the opening stanza  and limited the Mavericks to 34.4 percent from the field.

In the second half, Mercy tried to get back in the game, but the Pioneers were able to keep their lead in double digits throughout the remainder of the contest. The green and gold were plus-10 on the boards, outrebounding Mercy, 49-39. Junior center Nyasia Davis (Rahway, N.J.) did most of the dirty work on the glass for the Pioneers, coming down with 14 rebounds. 

To go along with her 23 points, Williams dished out eight assists, blocked five shots and hauled in four rebounds. Senior guard Ashley Castle (Brooklyn, N.Y.) added 11 points in 28 minutes. Brown finished with a season-high nine points, while DeRoche scored eight, her career-best with LIU Post.

The Pioneers are back in action on Saturday (Feb. 14) in a Valentine's Day match-up at St. Thomas Aquinas. The opening tip is slated for 1 p.m. from Sparkill.