Marciniak Scores 1,000th Career Point; Women's Basketball Routes STAC 65-41

2/20/2013 7:11:00 PM

LIU Post improves to 17-7 including 10-6 in conference action, while St. Thomas Aquinas drops to 13-13 and 9-7 in ECC play.

Junior guard Kenyatta Sears (Hampton, Va.) opened up the scoring with a jumper at 18:56, but Sara Oliveira nailed a three-pointer on the Spartans' ensuing trip down the court to take the lead.  This would be the only time the Spartans would hold an advantage for the remainder of the game.  The Pioneers followed with a 17-6 run to give themselves a 12 point lead with eight minutes to go in the first.  Samantha Kopp (Franklinville, N.Y.) drained a jumper in the paint with 3:09 remaining for the Pioneers to go up 27-13, a 14-point advantage and their largest of the half.  Going into halftime, LIU Post held a 12-point advantage with the score 27-15.  Kopp and Marciniak scored seven points each in the half, with Kopp pulling in a leading 14 boards.

The second half proved to be much of the same, with the Pioneers never relinquishing their double-digit lead.  The closest the Spartans would come would be within 10 points at both the 19:12 and 18:01 marks.  Junior Nijah LaCourt (Brooklyn, N.Y.) converted on a non-traditional three-point play with 3:28 left in the game to put her squad up by 26, the largest lead of the game. The Pioneers stifled the Spartans' offense, finishing out the game with a 65-41 win.

Marciniak paced a trio of Pioneers in double-digits, finishing with a game-high 15 points.  Kopp was right behind with a double-double, registering 11 points and a career-high 20 rebounds.   Sears finished with 10.

Shpresa Liharevic was the lone Spartan to reach double digits with 10 total points.

The Pioneers finish out their season at home Saturday, Feb. 23 as they host NYIT at 1:30 p.m.