Firebirds Fall on the Road at LIU Post, 72-53

BROOKVILLE, NY – The University of the District of Columbia women's basketball team was defeated, 72-53 by LIU Post University in East Coast Conference play Wednesday night at Pratt Recreation Center.

The Firebirds, who shot a mere 34-percent as a team from the field tonight, put just two scorers in double-figures. Freshman guard Tyra Coombs, fresh off a season-high 20-point performance vs. NYIT on Saturday, set a new season-high tonight and led all scorers with 22 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds. Another freshman guard, Bianca White, shot 6-of-12 from the field and finished with 13 points.

UDC's senior guard Shantrel Oliver, who set a career-high scoring mark of 36 points in a thrilling, 84-83 overtime defeat the last time these two teams met in our nation's capital back on January 4^th, was held to nine points tonight; however, the team captain unselfishly handed out a game-high five assists and had one steal.

The Pioneers (11-14, 7-8 ECC) were led by Mikaiya Moore's game-high 21 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists, and Sasha Patterson's double-double of 17 points and 21 rebounds. Also, Naya Williams was one of four LIU Post players with multiple steals with a game-high four thefts.

LIU Post out-shot UDC 44-percent (30-of-68) to 34-percent (18-of-53) from the field, out-rebounded the Firebirds, 49-29, and out-scored them in the paint, 38-22.

The Firebirds erased an early 6-2 deficit with a 5-0 run to take a 7-6 lead halfway through the first quarter. They would lead once more, 8-7, at the 4:31 mark, and force a 12-all tie at the 2:09 mark, but LIU Post ended the opening period on a 4-2 run and took a 16-14 lead going into the 2^nd quarter.

Still just a four-point game, 25-21 four minutes into the 2^nd quarter, LIU Post closed out the final six minutes before halftime on a 15-5 surge and took a 40-26 lead at the break.

The Firebirds never got any closer than eight points in the 2^nd half as the Pioneers closed out the final five-and-a-half minutes on a 12-3 run and won by their largest margin of the night (19).

Next up, UDC will host ECC foe Mercy College on Sunday, February 19^th at 2 p.m.