NEW YORK (Interstat) — The Long Island Sharks defeated the Le Moyne Dolphins 79-68 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at the Wellness, Recreation & Athletic Center. Long Island built a 45-32 halftime lead behind strong first and second quarters. The Sharks maintained control despite a third-quarter push from the Dolphins. Le Moyne, which dropped to 5-13, could not overcome the early deficit. Long Island improved to 10-6 on the season before an announced crowd of 124. The Sharks’ Solangelei Akridge and Janessa Williams were key contributors in the victory. Peyton Dincher led the effort for the Dolphins. The teams will meet again in conference play on Jan. 29 at Le Moyne.

NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a Northeast Conference clash defined by explosive offensive runs and a standout performance from Solangelei Akridge, the Long Island Sharks held off a persistent Le Moyne Dolphins squad for a 79-68 victory in women’s basketball Thursday night at the Wellness, Recreation & Athletic Center. The game’s decisive stretch arrived late in the fourth quarter. Leading 70-67 with just over six minutes to play, the Sharks unleashed a 9-1 surge that effectively sealed the outcome. The run was punctuated by Akridge, who drained a critical three-pointer off an assist from Janessa Williams, then drew a foul and sank two free throws on the next possession. Kadidia Toure capped the sequence with a layup, pushing the Long Island lead to 79-68 with 2:22 remaining, a margin the Dolphins could not overcome in the final minutes. Akridge, a guard from Spring Valley, California, spearheaded the Sharks’ attack with a game-high 23 points, adding three assists and a steal in 33 minutes. This performance marked a significant scoring surge for the junior, whose previous four outings had seen her average just under nine points per game. She was complemented perfectly by backcourt mate Janessa Williams of Lake Worth, Florida, who poured in 24 points, dished four assists, and grabbed six rebounds. The contest began at a frantic pace, with Long Island establishing an early foothold. The Sharks closed the first quarter on a 7-0 run, capped by a Leila Nunez jumper, to take a 24-20 lead. They extended that advantage to 45-32 by halftime, leveraging their transition game and capitalizing on 11 first-half turnovers by Le Moyne. The Dolphins, however, refused to fade. They chipped away in the third quarter, outscoring Long Island 19-13 behind the interior work of Ashley Buragas and the perimeter shooting of Sydney Postell to trim the deficit to 58-51 entering the final period. Le Moyne’s effort was led by a trio of double-digit scorers. Peyton Dincher of Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania, matched Akridge with 23 points. Ashley Buragas of Hopewell Junction, New York, dominated the paint with 21 points, while Sydney Postell of Churchville, New York, added 17. The Dolphins’ point guard, Jessica Wangolo of Ottawa, Canada, facilitated the offense with a game-high five assists. Despite the loss, Le Moyne showed resilience against a Long Island team that has now won five of its last six games. The Sharks improved to 10-6 overall and 4-1 in NEC play, while the Dolphins fell to 5-13 and 2-3. Long Island’s ability to answer every Le Moyne push, particularly with timely three-pointers—they hit 10 as a team—proved to be the difference. The Sharks also converted 15 Dolphins turnovers into 19 points. Defensively, Long Island’s length caused problems, registering six blocked shots, with two each from Nunez and Toure. Le Moyne struggled to find consistent rhythm from beyond the arc, a factor that allowed the Sharks to pack the lane and contest Buragas’s attempts. The announced attendance was 124. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Long Island entered the game with a 60.6 percent probability to win. Both teams return to conference action Saturday. Long Island will host Fairleigh Dickinson, while Le Moyne returns home to face Chicago State. The two teams will meet again in Syracuse on Jan. 29.

Preview: Le Moyne Dolphins at Long Island Sharks NEW YORK (Interstat) — A surging Long Island women’s basketball team will look to extend its winning streak when it hosts a Le Moyne squad seeking consecutive victories for the first time this season in a Northeast Conference matchup Thursday night. The Sharks (9-6) have won five straight games, most recently a 77-61 road victory over Saint Francis (PA) on Saturday. They will face the Dolphins (5-12) at the Wellness, Recreation & Athletic Center. Long Island’s run has been powered by guard Kadidia Toure, who is averaging 20.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists during the streak. She scored 22 points with seven assists in the win over Saint Francis and posted a 29-point performance against Mercyhurst on Jan. 8. Le Moyne snapped a three-game skid with a 65-61 win at Central Connecticut on Saturday. Forward Ashley Buragas led the way with 14 points and 13 rebounds, her second double-double in three games. Buragas is averaging 12.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game this season and will be a key factor for the Dolphins against Long Island’s interior defense. The Dolphins have struggled on the road, with a 1-8 record away from home. Their lone road win came in their last outing at Central Connecticut. Long Island is 4-2 at home this season. This game marks the first of a home-and-home series between the teams this season. They will meet again at Le Moyne on Jan. 29. Long Island’s offense, averaging 77.2 points per game during its streak, will test a Le Moyne defense that has allowed 73.1 points per game overall. The Sharks have shown balance, with Hannah Humphrey (15 points) and Janessa Williams (12 points) joining Toure in double figures in the last game. For Le Moyne, sustaining momentum will require contributions beyond Buragas. Peyton Dincher added 15 points against Central Connecticut, and Jessica Wangolo dished out four assists. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Thursday.