HAMDEN, Conn. – Erin Kerner (Erie, Pa.) scored 25 points, including the 1,000^th of her career as the Quinnipiac women’s basketball team erased a nine-point second half deficit and defeat Long Island, 62-60, Saturday afternoon at the TD Banknorth Sports Center. Kerner also added six rebounds and six assists.

Mandy Pennewell (West Chester, Pa.) added 12 points for Quinnipiac (14-2, 6-0 NEC) while Monique Lee (Lynn, Mass.) compiled a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds. Courtney Kaminski (Dudley, Mass.) also finished in double-figures with 10 points.

Valerie Nainima and Mikaelar Whippy posted matching lines of 13 points and eight rebounds to pace five Blackbirds in double-figures. Connie James and Sara Oblak each contributed 12 points and Chelsi Johnson scored 10 for LIU (12-4, 3-2 NEC).

Kerner gave the Bobcats their first lead since the 12:46 mark of the first half, connecting on a three with 4:24 remaining in the game. After an Oblak jumper put the lead back in LIU’s possession, Kerner was fouled as she connected on a driving layup.

LIU again retook the lead on a Johnson jumper at the 3:10 mark, but Lee gave the Bobcats the lead for good on a jumper with 2:47 left. Lee blocked James’ attempt at the other end of the floor and, after both teams failed to connect in their next possessions, Kerner made two free throws at the 1:58 mark to extend the lead to three.

James stripped Kerner on the next Bobcat possession and went the length of the floor to cut the QU lead to one with 57 seconds left. But Kerner again scored on a drive, despite being fouled, with 32 seconds left to push the lead back to three.

Johnson and Nainima both missed threes in the next trip and Lee was sent to the line, where she made one of two free throws to stretch the lead to four. Johnson kept it interesting with a three with 10 seconds remaining. Lee again was fouled with 4.4 seconds left, and again made one of two.

Nainima dribbled up court, intent on a buzzer-beater, but couldn’t get a shot off under intense pressure from Brianna Rooney (Guilford, Conn.).

The Blackbirds took a 33-29 lead into the locker room following a back-and-forth first half. Whippy led all scorers at the break, scoring all 13 of her points in the initial stanza. Kerner led the Bobcats with nine points, while Kaminski had eight at the break.

For the game, the Bobcats outshot the Blackbirds, 40.7 percent (24-59) to 35.4 percent (23-65) from the floor, 41.7 percent (5-12) to 28.6 percent (6-21) from beyond the three-point arc and 64.3 percent (9-14) to 61.5 percent (8-13) from the free throw line. QU also outrebounded the Blackbirds, 44-38.

Quinnipiac returns to action Monday when they travel to Brooklyn, N.Y. to take on St. Francis (NY). The Martin Luther King Day matinee’s opening tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.