Marciniak Leads Women's Basketball Past UDC, 55-46
Box Score
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (Jan. 12, 2013) – After a quick basket by the University of the District of Columbia to start the game, the LIU Post women's basketball team never lost its lead for the remainder of the game and clinched the 55-46 East Coast Conference victory Saturday afternoon in the Pratt Recreation Center.
LIU Post improves to 10-3 including 3-2 in conference play, while the District of Columbia slips to 6-9 and 1-4 in the ECC.
After just four seconds had passed, UDC had its only lead of the game off a layup by Teara Shaw. The Pioneers followed with a 10-0 run capped off by a
Samantha Kopp (Franklinville, N.Y.) jumper with 13 minutes remaining in the half. A jumper by
Chelsea Williams (Copiague, N.Y.) four minutes later would give the Pioneers their first double digit lead of the game. LIU Post retained its lead throughout the half, leading by as many as 14 points before a UDC jumper with 42 seconds left cut the lead to 12 (33-21) going into halftime. Senior
Nicolette Marciniak (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored 11 points in the half on 4-8 shooting including 3-3 from the free-throw line, while Williams added eight points. The pair had six and five rebounds, respectively.
The second half began just like the first half ended with back-and-forth play and the Pioneers remaining just out of reach of the Firebirds. A Marciniak jumper with 14 minutes remaining in the half put LIU Post ahead by 15, its largest lead of the afternoon at 41-26. The Firebirds made the game interesting, going on an 11-1 run to pull within four points of the lead at 46-42, but the Pioneers immediately followed with their own seven-point run to go back up by 11 points with 45 seconds remaining in the game. The Pioneers held onto their lead, closing out the game with a 55-46 victory. Marciniak matched her 11 point first half total in the second half and grabbed eight boards as well.
Marciniak led the Pioneer offense, finishing with her seventh straight game with at least 10 points and her fourth double-double of the season, registering 22 points and 14 rebounds. Williams added 10 points, and senior
Ashley Caggiano (Holtsville, N.Y.) chipped in six points and a game-high five assists.
Denikka Brent led the Firebirds with 14 points.
The Pioneers out-rebounded the Firebirds 52-36, and registered 14 assists while UDC had just four assists.
LIU Post returns to action Wednesday, Jan. 16 for an ECC match-up against Mercy College. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. in the Pratt Recreation Center.