Long Island (4-2) used a 12-2 run to close out the first half and take a firm grasp on the game. The Blackbirds refused to relinquish that grip in the second stanza as their lead quickly ballooned to 22 points on a 18-4 run. The streak was kicked off when sophomore Connie James (Galloway, N.J.) drove the lane and hit a cutting Nainima with a perfectly-placed bounce pass for a layup. Six buckets and six minutes later the Crusaders were looking at a deficit they could not conquer.

 

James contributed a solid all-around game, finishing with 11 rebounds, seven assists, six points, three steals and a block, earning a place on the all-tournament team. Her 11 rebounds tied a career-high. James was joined on the all-tournament squad by senior Mikaelar Whippy (Suva, Fiji) who chipped in a season-high 19 points, adding five rebounds and two assists.

 

Graduate student Sara Oblak (Skofja Loka, Slovenia) scored 12 points for the Blackbirds, who shot 47 percent from the floor. Long Island won the battle of the boards by a 36-29 margin. Jessica Pearson came off the bench to score a team-high nine points for Holy Cross, who fell to 3-3 on the season. Ashley McLaughlin's five boards paced the Crusaders.

 

Long Island will hit the road for just the second time this season on Wednesday, Nov. 28 when the Blackbirds travel to Hofstra. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m.