Two Starters Score in Double Figures as Women's Basketball Faces LIU Post
Box Score DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Jan. 7, 2015)- Two starters scored in double figures, led by senior Tanayzha Augustine (Poughkeepsie, N.Y. / Poughkeepsie) with 19 points and six rebounds, as the Mercy College women's basketball team fell to the Pioneers of LIU Post University, 72-61 on Wednesday evening.
The Mavericks fall to 7-5 overall and 1-4 in the ECC, while the Pioneers improve to 7-5 overall and 3-1 in the ECC.
The Pioneers opened the game on a 16-4 run before juniors Tatiana Parish (Los Angeles, Calif. / Mt. San Antonio CC) and Erin Copeland (Kansas City, Kan. / Univ. of Illinois-Springfield) connected on triples to cut the LIU Post lead to 18-12.
The Pioneers held the lead on the strong play from Nyasia Davis, who finished with a game-high 32 points. Mercy balanced their strong inside play, by getting to the free-throw line. The Mavericks went 10-for-12 in the first stanza, posting an 83.3% free-throw percentage. Senior Brandone Roberts (Jessup, Md. / Nyack College) used her wiry 6-4 frame to help her get to the line. Roberts went 7-for-8 from the charity stripe to help close the gap to seven as both teams hit the locker room for halftime.
In the second half, two early baskets by Augustine and junior Deasia Goodson (Freeport, N.Y. / SUNYIT) pulled the Mavericks to within five at 41-36.
LIU Post went back to Davis on the low block as she scored 21 points, including 10 in a row midway through the half.
Mercy pulled within six on two Augustine layups' and a three pointer by freshman Casey Sullivan (East Lyme, Conn. / Saint Bernard) at the 5:15 mark.
Despite the Mavericks run late, Davis and Chelsea Williams helped LIU Post hold on for the victory.
Roberts finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, while the Pioneers were ice cold from the land of three, finishing the game 0-for-12.
Head Coach Rashidi Aikens and the Mavericks return to action on Saturday Jan. 10, as the travel to Old Westbury, N.Y. to face the Bears of NYIT at 1:00 p.m.
