Terriers Welcome LIU Brooklyn to the Pope on Saturday Afternoon

THE MATCHUP:
St. Francis Brooklyn vs. LIU Brooklyn
Saturday, February 16, at 1 p.m.
Brooklyn Heights, NY
Live Video | Live Stats
 
The Terriers (13-10, 7-4) return home for the second home game of February, as they welcome the Blackbirds of LIU Brooklyn (2-20, 1-19) to the Pope Physical Education Center on Saturday, February 16. St. Francis Brooklyn fell to the Seahawks of Wagner College in their most recent contest in Staten Island. The Terriers surrendered a 15-point lead established in the third quarter to drop their fourth contest of conference play. The Blackbirds took down the Mountaineers of Mount St. Mary's on Monday evening by a score of 71-61. Freshman Brandy Thomas notched a career-high and game-high 36 points, while grabbing 19 rebounds to give LIU Brooklyn their first victory in nearly two months. The freshman was recognized by the Northeast Conference by taking home the Rookie of the Week honors.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES:
St. Francis Brooklyn trails LIU Brooklyn 22-58 all time. The previous contest saw the two face off in the 26^th annual "Battle of Brooklyn" on January 21, 2019. The first meeting of the 2018-19 season between the two schools down the block from each other, saw the Terriers as victors. The game on Flatbush Avenue began a four-game road trip for St. Francis Brooklyn at the time. In the contest, junior guard Jade Johnson scored a career high 33 points, and tied the school record with eight triples in the contest. The respective number of three-pointers made and attempted for Johnson were a career high for the Australian native. Sophomore forward Ally Lassen, at the time, was one point away from her career high at 17. She also made six free throws in nine total attempts. To no one's surprise, Jade Johnson was named the Most Valuable Player of the game. Her first honor in three games. Four players for the Blackbirds would notch double-digit points which was led by Jeydah Johnson with 19.
 
LAST TIME OUT:
The Terriers hit the road once again for the fifth time in six games, but not a far road trip in Staten Island to Wagner College. St. Francis Brooklyn took down the Seahawks by a score of 76-61 at the Pope when each team opened conference play in the beginning of January. The Seahawks would eventually catch the Terriers at the right time. While in the midst of a four-game winning streak, the resiliency level of Wagner was at an all-time high during their "Play4Kay" pink game. Led by Taylah Simmons, the Seahawks would subsequently lead her team to a come from behind upset against St. Francis Brooklyn. On the home side, fellow Australian Jade Johnson led the way with 30 points. Just three points shy of her career high, and one triple away from the school's single game record (8), also accomplished by Johnson and Sarah Benedetti. The Terriers began the game off slower than usual, as they were down by as much as 10 points in the first quarter, but would storm back and accept a one-point deficit of 23-22. History does not bode well with the Terriers when trailing at the first quarter (4-9). St. Francis bounced back nicely by taking a three-point lead into the locker room. That was not enough for Head Coach Linda Cimino and her squad. The Terriers exploded out to a 15-point lead by going on multiple 8-0 runs in the respective quarter. The fourth-quarter was not so kind to the Terriers as Taylah Simmons and her Seahawks took down the Terriers in upsetting fashion. Wagner would go on their own 6-0 and 7-0 runs twice. The Seahawks would lose the lead, but then regain it back in a team effort. The Terriers were outscored in the paint 16-8, and the Seahawks cashed in on the Terriers' 5 turnovers in the respective quarter. This defeat, gives the Terriers their first loss when holding a third quarter lead this season (10-1).
 
 
TEAM NEC LEADERS:
The Terriers are currently first in the conference in scoring (74.1 ppg), field goal percentage (43.7%), rebounding margin (+4.7), rebounding offense (41.2), free-throw percentage (73.6%), three-point field goal percentage (40.7%), assists per game (16.4), total assists (359), defensive rebounds (29.4 RPG), and are tied for first with Sacred Heart in the assist/turnover ratio category (0.9).
 
INDIVIDUAL NEC LEADERS:
The Terriers have five players ranked in the top 30 of the conference in scoring. Johnson is ranked second in points per game with 18.9. O'Neill leads the conference in both assists (188) and assists per game (8.2). Sophomore forward Ally Lassen leads the conference in field-goal percentage (55.0). Jade Johnson is ranked atop the three-point field-goal percentage list with a conference best 44.6%. Amy O'Neill ranks first in assist/turnover ratio (+1.9). O'Neill also has averaged the most minutes played per game (37.5).
 
MILESTONE WATCH:
Senior guard Maria Palarino is 9 rebounds away from tying Carolyn Harvey (596) for 14^th all-time on the career rebounds list. The captain is also two free-throws away from taking lone control of 11^th on the all-time list, currently occupied by Jazmine Rhodes (237). Senior guard and captain Amy O'Neill is 5 assists away (188) from becoming the all-time leading assist getter during a single season, she would surpass Sandy Salerno, who had a record setting 192 assists during the 1990-91 season.
 
1,000 POINT WATCH: JADE JOHNSON:
Australian native Jade Johnson has closed in within 100 points of 1,000 in her magnificent career in Brooklyn. The junior guard has tallied double-digit points in all but four contests this season. With her 30-point performance against Wagner College on Saturday, Johnson is now 20 points away from becoming the 18^th student-athlete to accomplish this feat.
 
MARIA PALARINO KEEPS MAKING HISTORY:
St. Francis Brooklyn welcomed the 17^th student-athlete in program history to the 1,000-point club as Irwin, PA native and senior guard Maria Palarino accomplished the feat on Monday, January 28 at Mount St. Mary's. Palarino would accomplish points number 1,000 and 1,001 on a right-handed lay-up just seven minutes into the second quarter of the contest. Most recently against Wagner, Maria contributed 16 points to give her sole possession of 15^th all-time on the program's scoring list. She successfully passed Mary Kawas Rotolo. Palarino is now 13 points away from tying Rosie Downing (1,046) for 14^th all-time.
 
TOP OF THE NATION:
Australian native Amy O'Neill currently ranks fourth on the total assist chart (188). O'Neill also is tied for second in the nation in assists per game (8.2). She is tied with Sabrina Ionescu of Oregon. O'Neill ranks 12^th in minutes played per game by averaging 37.41 minutes. Junior guard Jade Johnson is ranked second in free-throw percentage at 92.7%. Johnson is tied for 8^th in the nation with 77 triples made. She is tied with Monmouth's Sierra Green. The duo is also tied for 8^th in triples made per game with 3.43. Johnson continues raking in the recognition by being ranked 16^th in three-point field goal percentage at 44.6%
 
NEC WEEKLY AWARDS:
Sophomore forward Ally Lassen was selected to her second "Prime Performer" list by the Northeast Conference this past week. Junior guard Jade Johnson was also a selection, which was her 9^th overall of the season. They join teammates Amy O'Neill, Dominique Ward, and Maria Palarino on the list. Johnson was also named as a Co-Player of the Week on the week of November 19, as was Amy O'Neill a lone week ago. Both players took home the honors for the first time in their careers.
 
UP NEXT:
The Terriers return home on Monday, February 18 to welcome the Blue Devils of Central Connecticut State University on our annual "Play4Kay" pink game in support of Breast Cancer Awareness for a 1 p.m. tip.