The Quinnipiac University women's basketball team squares off with Long Island for the second time this season when the teams meet Saturday at noon in Brooklyn. In the previous meeting on Jan. 31, the Blackbirds captured a 52-49 win at the TD Banknorth Sports Center after holding off a late run by the Bobcats in the second half. Quinnipiac can clinch a berth in the Northeast Conference Tournament with a win on Saturday or a loss by Wagner at Robert Morris. A loss would drop the last-place Blackbirds out of contention for the eighth and final postseason spot in the NEC Tournament.

Scouting the Blackbirds

Long Island comes into the game having lost its last five contests. The Blackbirds currently sit in 11th place in the NEC with a 2-12 conference record, including the win in Hamden in late January. That win against the Bobcats was the last time LIU won a game. Freshman Ashley Palmer leads the team with 17.1 points per game this season, while also leading the Blackbirds with 9.4 rebounds per game. Long Island has only reached the 60-point mark in a game once since its 74-52 win versus New Mexico State on Dec. 28.This season, the team is managing just 53.4 points per game.

On The Air

Saturday's game can be seen live on the MSG Network. Paul Dottino will have the play-by-play duties, while Pam Roecker will handle the color analysis. The game can also be heard on WQUN.com with Bill Schweizer on play-by-play and Bob Tipson adding color.

Splitsville

The loss at Saint Francis (Pa.) on Monday night marked a weekend split for the Bobcats after having defeated Robert Morris, 74-57, Saturday afternoon. Quinnipiac fell behind early to the Red Flash and never held a lead in the game as the team finished its Western Pennsylvania with a 1-1 mark.

Nineteen Is My Favorite Number

For the second straight game, senior Erin Kerner (Erie, Pa.) had a team-high 19 points Monday night in Loretto. Kerner attempted a career-high 27 field goals in 38 minutes of play.

Once...Twice...Three Times A Lady

Kathleen Neyens (Jaffrey, N.H.) may not have led the team in scoring, but she did not go unnoticed as she scored in double figures for the third consecutive game with 15 against the Red Flash. The junior forward also connected on her fifth three-point field goal of the season in the game.

Pennewell Comes Home

Kerner and Mandy Pennewell (West Chester, Pa.) led Quinnipiac with 19 points each in win over Robert Morris on Saturday. Pennewell followed her 19-point performance at the Sewall Center with 12 points at Saint Francis (Pa.), including two three-point field goals giving her an NEC-best 56 this season.

Pilfer Your Way To The Top

Senior Brianna Rooney (Guilford, Conn.) leads the NEC in steals this season with 60. She also leads the conference in assist/turnover with a 2.07 figure. She also ranks second in the conference in free-throw percentage, shooting .855 from the charity stripe.

Trio Of Points

Jacinda Dunbar (Edison, N.J.) finished a perfect 3-for-3 from the field on Monday night. All three of Dunbar's field goals came off offensive rebounds and put-backs underneath. She finished the game with four offensive boards.

Bench Marks

Quinnipiac only had three players come off the bench and record shots against Saint Francis (Pa.). Krystal Lazos (Medford, N.J.) and Jacki Mann (Rutherford, Conn.) each were 1-for-1 from the field, while Alyssa Jann (Westford, Mass.) was the third player off the bench to attempt a field goal at DeGol Arena.

One Extreme To Another

One game after pulling down a season-high 48 rebounds, Quinnipiac collected a season-low 29 boards against the Red Flash. Neyens led the Bobcats with six boards on Monday.