2008 Woodie Awards
First place hoops heartbreak-Women
Pat Pickens
Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Sports
It is not very often that Amanda Pape, Jasmine Walker and the Sacred Heart women's basketball team are tied at halftime and don't find a way to end up on top, especially in the friendly confines of the William H. Pitt Center.
But this is a new year.
Despite 19 points and nine rebounds from Walker, the Long Island Blackbirds marched onto the home floor of the Pioneers and knocked off the defending NEC champions, 57-48, in front of a stunned 683 at the William H. Pitt Center on Monday night.
"LIU was better in every aspect of the game," coach Ed Swanson said. "They deserved this one."
The Blackbirds got 19 points from Mikaelar Whippy, including three clutch three-pointers in the second half. LIU shot 66.7 percent from three point range for the game.
The Pioneers also got little else offensively, other than Walker, Pape, and sophomore Kaitlin Sowinski. The trio combined to score 44 of the 48 Pioneer points for the game.
"We only had those three scoring for us and it is not enough," Swanson said. "We need someone else to step up."
LIU also did a terrific job of controlling Pape in the second half. The senior, who was named Choice Hotels/NEC Player of the Week, on Monday was held without a field goal, and to just two measly free throws, while outscoring the Pioneers 33-24 in the second stanza.
"I think the extra effort of going after loose balls and bringing the extra energy hurt us the most," said Walker. "We came out with energy, they just came out with more, since this is such a hard place to get a win."
With the win, LIU moves to 10-1, they have won 10 straight games and lead the Pioneers by a game and a half at 8-2. Both teams will not meet again this season in the regular season, and would likely not face each other until the NEC Tournament Final.
"It was a big game," Swanson said. "But what's nice about this is that there is always tomorrow."
"Our weaknesses were exposed, so we will have to work on them."
The Pioneers are off until Saturday, where they will duke it out with Central Connecticut St. The Pioneers beat the Blue Devils 73-61 this past Saturday. Game time is 2 p.m.
But this is a new year.
Despite 19 points and nine rebounds from Walker, the Long Island Blackbirds marched onto the home floor of the Pioneers and knocked off the defending NEC champions, 57-48, in front of a stunned 683 at the William H. Pitt Center on Monday night.
"LIU was better in every aspect of the game," coach Ed Swanson said. "They deserved this one."
The Blackbirds got 19 points from Mikaelar Whippy, including three clutch three-pointers in the second half. LIU shot 66.7 percent from three point range for the game.
The Pioneers also got little else offensively, other than Walker, Pape, and sophomore Kaitlin Sowinski. The trio combined to score 44 of the 48 Pioneer points for the game.
"We only had those three scoring for us and it is not enough," Swanson said. "We need someone else to step up."
LIU also did a terrific job of controlling Pape in the second half. The senior, who was named Choice Hotels/NEC Player of the Week, on Monday was held without a field goal, and to just two measly free throws, while outscoring the Pioneers 33-24 in the second stanza.
"I think the extra effort of going after loose balls and bringing the extra energy hurt us the most," said Walker. "We came out with energy, they just came out with more, since this is such a hard place to get a win."
With the win, LIU moves to 10-1, they have won 10 straight games and lead the Pioneers by a game and a half at 8-2. Both teams will not meet again this season in the regular season, and would likely not face each other until the NEC Tournament Final.
"It was a big game," Swanson said. "But what's nice about this is that there is always tomorrow."
"Our weaknesses were exposed, so we will have to work on them."
The Pioneers are off until Saturday, where they will duke it out with Central Connecticut St. The Pioneers beat the Blue Devils 73-61 this past Saturday. Game time is 2 p.m.
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