BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The LIU Post women's basketball team captured the East Coast Conference (ECC) regular season championship with a 70-62 victory against Roberts Wesleyan College inside the Pratt Recreation Center Feb. 25.
 
The Pioneers finish the regular season with a 17-1 record in league play, their best mark since compiling an 18-2 record during the 2013-14 season, and are the fewest losses in league play in over 20 years.
 
After falling behind 6-2 to begin the contest, LIU Post rattled off 12 straight points to take a 14-6 lead midway through the first quarter. The lead eventually grew to 13 points after senior Kylie Garrett closed out the opening stanza with consecutive three-pointers and sophomore Robyn Francis opened the second period with a jumper to cap an eight-point burst. Back and forth runs made it 36-26 in favor of the Pioneers before a Patterson three-point play and a layup by junior Shannon Doyle at the buzzer gave the Green and Gold a 41-26 lead at the half.
 
The Pioneers picked up right where they left off to begin the second half, as sophomore Taylah Hudson opened the scoring with a spin move past a defender in transition for an easy lay-in. The Pioneers continued to roll during the period, as sophomore Mikaiya Moore scored six unanswered points midway through the third.  The Redhawks cut the deficit down to just four points (66-62) with 1:14 remaining, but Hudson and Moore drilled four free throws down the stretch and the Pioneers held on the rest of the way.
 
Senior Sasha Patterson had a phenomenal day, scoring 27 points and hauling in 20 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive end for her 14th double-double of the season. Moore contributed a double-double as well, scoring 14 points and snagging 10 boards, while Garrett tallied nine points on three three-pointers.
 
The Pioneers earned a bye to the semifinal round of the ECC Tournament and will await their opponent after the play-in round on Wednesday, Feb. 28. A full preview of the Pioneer playoff picture will be available on www.liupostpioneers.com later this week.