GAME 27 - Saturday, February 20, 2010
Monmouth University Hawks (15-11, 10-5 NEC) vs. Long Island University Blackbirds (17-9, 11-4 NEC)
Location: Wellness Center - Brooklyn, N.Y.
Tip: 2:00 p.m.
Hawks' Radio Broadcast: WMCX, 88.9 FM
Internet: www.wmcx.com     
Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/liubrooklyn/wbball

GAMEDAY PREVIEW
The Monmouth University women's basketball team travels to New York City for the second straight league contest in the borough of Brooklyn when it faces Long Island on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks have now won five straight contests after their most recent victory over St. Francis College on Thursday. MU is currently all alone in fourth place in the Northeast Conference, one game behind both the Blackbirds and Sacred Heart for second place in the league standings. Monmouth is currently 5-2 on the road in NEC play with its next two games coming away from the Multipurpose Activity Center.

LAST TIME OUT
Monmouth scored its most lopsided win of the season, topping St. Francis College, 65-30 on Thursday evening. The Hawks led wire-to-wire in the contest, with its largest lead being the final margin of victory. With the win, the Hawks pick up their 10th league victory of the season, the 11th time in the last 12 years and 18th time overall, that MU has cracked double-digits in conference victories. The Hawks limited SFC to 12 first half points and held the Terriers to 23.6% shooting for the contest. Freshman Abby Martin paced three Hawks in double figures with 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting and seven rebounds.

THIS LITTLE BIRDIE'S GONNA FLY THE COOP
Long Island has staged one of the biggest turnarounds in the NEC this season, improving its win total from last season by eight games already. The Blackbirds defeated Fairleigh Dickinson, 66-65 last time out, receiving 22 points and 12 rebounds from Ashley Palmer. The Blackbirds are tied with Sacred Heart for second in the conference at 11-4, one game ahead of the Hawks. Palmer leads the club with 16 points per contest, while Chelsi Johnson contributes 14.1 points per game.  

PLAYOFF PUSH
With its 69-56 win over Wagner (02/13/10), the Monmouth women's basketball team qualified for the 2010 Northeast Conference Tournament for the ninth straight season. The Hawks have qualified for the league tournament in all but three seasons it has been held (2000-01, 1997-98, 1989-90), having appeared in 20 conference postseasons. MU holds a 19-19 mark in NEC Tournament play, and has won a game in each of the last three postseasons. The Hawks have fallen in the NEC Tournament Final four times, most recently in the 2003-04 season.