Firebirds Outpaced by Pioneers in ECC Road Loss

BROOKVILLE, NY – The University of the District of Columbia women's basketball team was defeated, 92-74 by host LIU Post in East Coast Conference action at the Pratt Recreation Center Wednesday night.

The Firebirds (2-16, 0-8 ECC) were led by a game-high 26-point effort from freshman guard Daeja Quick, who was one point shy of her season-high. She shot 8-of-18 from the field and 8-of-15 from the foul line, and she also contributed five rebounds and two steals.

Junior transfer guard Mia-Alexis Lloyd also scored in double-figures for the 10^th time this season with 13 points to go with five rebounds and three assists. Meanwhile, freshman Danielle Harrington recorded her first collegiate double-figure scoring game of 11 points while also collecting five rebounds and a game-high three steals.

LIU Post (13-5) remained unbeaten in conference as it improved to 8-0 on the season with tonight's win. The Pioneers have won six straight and 11 of their last 12 games, and their only loss in that span was to No. 8 nationally-ranked Bentley University.

The hosts featured two reserves who scored over 20 points apiece and three starters in double-figures. Kylie Garrett was red-hot off the bench for the Pioneers as she scored 23 points in 22 minutes of action, shooting 5-of-6 – all from three-point range – and making 8-of-8 at the foul line. She also contributed five rebounds and two assists. In addition, forward Mikaiya Moore produced the game's only double-double with 21 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. She shot 8-of-12 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 at the foul line.

LIU Post's three starters in double-figures were forward Sasha Patterson with 14 points, and guards Taylah Hudson and Kristen Olsen with 12 points apiece. Hudson handed out a game-high six assists, and Olsen dished out four assists to go with three steals on defense.

The most glaring statistical disparity was shooting percentage as the Pioneers out-shot UDC 56-percent (28-of-50) to 43-percent (26-of-60) from the field, 50-percent (10-of-20) to 41-percent (7-of-17) from three-point range, and 70-percent (26-of-37) to 60-percent (15-of-25) from the foul line. The Firebirds were nearly even in rebounding (LIU Post 34, UDC 32), and had only two more turnovers (18-16).

Despite the difference in team records, it was the Firebirds who first raced out to any lead greater than one-possession's worth. After trading baskets with the Pioneers through the mid-way point in the first quarter, Harrington knocked down what was just her 2^nd made three-point field goal of the season to ignited a 10-3 Firebird surge. Junior transfer guard Natasha Roy capped the run with a three-pointer at the 2:26 mark to put the Firebirds in front, 18-12. At that point, however, Hudson quelled the UDC momentum with a layup, which was then followed by a steal and a three-pointer by Olsen, and suddenly LIU Post was on the march. The Pioneers ended the first quarter on a 10-0 run, and claimed a 22-18 lead at the end of the opening period.

Although momentum had seemingly shifted in LIU Post's favor at the end of the first quarter, UDC managed to keep it a six-point game approaching the one-minute mark before halftime. But Garrett's five straight points to end the half – including a three-pointer that came off another Olsen steal – extended the Pioneers' lead to 47-36 as the teams headed to the locker rooms.

Lloyd converted a layup for the first points of the 2^nd half to cut UDC's deficit to nine, 47-38, but that was as close as the Firebirds would get the rest of the way. LIU Post grew its lead to as much as 19 around the six-minute mark, and it would take a commanding, 76-60 lead heading into the final quarter. UDC never threatened in the final period, ultimately surrendering to a 92-74 loss.

Next up, UDC will host ECC foe New York Institute of Technology on Saturday, January 20^th at 3 p.m.