ERIE, Pa. (Interstat) — Kadidia Toure scored 29 points to lead Long Island to an 86-81 victory over Mercyhurst in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Sharks built a double-digit lead by halftime, but the Lakers surged with a 25-point third quarter to close the gap. Mercyhurst’s Cici Hernandez scored 25 points and Sofia Wilson added 20, but the comeback fell short. Long Island’s efficiency, shooting 51.6% from the floor, and a 16-7 advantage in offensive rebounds proved decisive. Janessa Williams contributed 17 points for the Sharks. Long Island improved to 8-6, while Mercyhurst dropped to 1-13.

ERIE, Pa. (Interstat) — Kadidia Toure scored 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Long Island to an 86-81 victory over Mercyhurst in a Northeast Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Mercyhurst Athletic Center. The Sharks (8-6, 1-0 NEC) squandered a 13-point halftime lead but held off a furious second-half rally by the Lakers (1-13, 0-1), who erased the deficit and briefly took the lead in the third quarter before Long Island regained control in the final period. Toure, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Silver Spring, Maryland, was dominant inside, shooting 12 of 24 from the field and adding two assists and two blocks in 35 minutes. Her performance anchored a Long Island offense that overcame 17 turnovers by dominating the glass, outrebounding Mercyhurst 45-30 and securing 16 offensive rebounds that led to 18 second-chance points. The game’s pivotal sequence came late in the third quarter. After building a 45-34 halftime advantage behind efficient first-half shooting, the Sharks went cold. Mercyhurst, led by the backcourt duo of Cici Hernandez and Sofia Wilson, unleashed a 25-9 run over nearly seven minutes. Hernandez, who finished with 25 points, capped the surge with a 3-pointer at the 4:05 mark of the third to give the Lakers a 59-54 lead, their first since the opening minutes. Long Island, however, did not fold. Toure stopped the bleeding with a layup and a free throw, and the Sharks closed the quarter on a 7-0 run to reclaim a 61-59 edge heading to the fourth. The Sharks then opened the final period with a 9-3 spurt, keyed by a 3-pointer from Janessa Williams and another inside score from Toure, to rebuild an eight-point cushion they would not relinquish. Mercyhurst stayed within striking distance thanks to its perimeter shooting, hitting 12 of 31 from beyond the arc. Wilson finished with 20 points and five assists, while Hernandez’s 25 came on 8-of-19 shooting, including 5 of 13 from deep. Lena Walz added 11 points for the Lakers. Every time the Lakers closed the gap in the fourth quarter, Long Island had an answer, often from Toure or Williams. Williams scored 17 points for the Sharks, while Hannah Humphrey added 12 and Kionna Gaines had 11. Long Island shot 51.6% from the field (32 of 62) but struggled at the free-throw line, making only 14 of 24. Mercyhurst shot 45.8% (27 of 59) and was 15 of 24 from the line. The Lakers forced 14 points off 17 Long Island turnovers but were ultimately undone by the Sharks’ interior presence and their own 12 giveaways. The win gives Long Island a positive start to conference play and extends its winning streak to three games. Mercyhurst, which was projected as a significant favorite by advanced metrics entering the contest, continues to search for consistency in a difficult season. Long Island travels to face Saint Francis (Pa.) on Saturday. Mercyhurst will host Wagner the same day.

Long Island Looks to Extend Win Streak Against Struggling Mercyhurst ERIE, Pa. (Interstat) — The Long Island Sharks will aim for their fourth consecutive victory when they visit the Mercyhurst Lakers in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball matchup Thursday night. The game, organized by the Northeast, tips off at 7 p.m. EST at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Long Island (7-6) enters on a surge, having won three straight, including a 60-51 home victory over Chicago State on Sunday. The Sharks have found their rhythm after a 2-6 start, with their recent success built on defense and rebounding. Mercyhurst (1-12) snapped a 12-game season-opening losing streak with an 89-72 road win at Le Moyne on Sunday. The Lakers will seek to build on that performance and secure their first home win of the campaign. A key matchup will feature Long Island’s Kadidia Toure against Mercyhurst’s Lena Walz. Toure has been dominant during the Sharks’ streak, averaging 18.5 points and 9.0 rebounds over the last four games. She posted a 23-point, 16-rebound double-double in a win at Central Connecticut on Jan. 2. Walz led the Lakers in their lone win, contributing 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists against Le Moyne. Her playmaking will be crucial for a Mercyhurst offense that has been held under 60 points in nine of its 13 games. In Sunday’s win, Long Island’s frontcourt controlled the glass. Alongside Toure’s 14 points and seven rebounds, Kionna Gaines and Laura Molnárová each recorded double-doubles in points and rebounds. Mercyhurst’s victory featured a balanced attack, with Sofia Wilson scoring 19 points and Cici Hernandez adding 16. The Sharks have dominated the recent series, winning the last three meetings by an average of 22 points. Mercyhurst’s last win over Long Island came during the 2022-23 season. Following this contest, Long Island travels to face Saint Francis (Pa.) on Saturday. Mercyhurst remains at home to host Wagner the same day.