FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 12, 2002

HAWKS FALL AT LONG ISLAND, 81-80

Brooklyn, N.Y. -- Junior Tamika Dudley (Woodbridge, VA/Woodbridge) hit the go-ahead free throw with 3.4 seconds left and posted
her 15th career double-double for Long Island, which improved to its best Northeast Conference start with an 81-80 triumph over
Monmouth at Schwartz Center.

Dudley finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds -- including 11 and eight in the second half -- and six assists to propel the
Blackbirds (7-6, 4-0 NEC) in a game that featured 17 ties and 15 lead changes.  The preseason All-NEC selection, who has a
pair of double-doubles this season, scored in double figures for the 12th straight contest as LIU won its third straight to match a
season high.

Monmouth held the lead most of the second half, grabbing an 80-76 cushion with 1:43 left when Rashawnah French (Newark, NJ)
buried a 3-pointer.  It was her only basket from beyond the arc.

But the Blackbirds would not be denied by scoring the last five points, the same as they did last season here in an 85-84 overtime
triumph on February 12.  Junior Kim Mac Millan (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) nailed two free throws with 1:27 remaining
and senior Angelika Stec (Stalowa Vola, Poland/Mercer CC) added two of her own with 1:09 to play for an 80-80 tie.

Dudley stole the ball with 26 seconds left to give LIU a chance.  The go-ahead play went to junior Johanna DiChiara
(Kings Park, NY/Dowling), who missed a 10-footer but Dudley was there for the rebound.  A 57 percent foul shooter entering the game,
Dudley made the first to give the Blackbirds their first lead since 53-52 with 16:16 left.

Dudley missed the second and French hauled in the rebound with two seconds left.  The Hawks looked to LaToya Thompson
(Orange, NJ), who hit a game-winner last season at the buzzer against St. Francis (PA), but Dudley tapped the ball from her as time expired.

Dudley was 7-of-9 from the stripe to help LIU hit 85 percent (17-of-20) overall, including 17-of-19 in the second half.  Monmouth made
77 percent (13-of-17) from the line, but was only 5-of-8 over the final 20 minutes.

Mac Millan closed with 21 points and was 5-of-12 from downtown, extending her NCAA Division I streak of consecutive games with a
made 3-pointer to 57.  She has averaged 25.3 points in three home games vs. Monmouth and scored in double figures for the 11th time this season.

DiChiara closed with 20 points on 10-of-16 shooting and added seven rebounds for LIU, which shot 46 percent (28-of-61) and has won five of its last six
meetings with Monmouth.  DiChiara has averaged 15.0 points and 7.7 rebounds over three games in January.

The Blackbirds began last season 3-0 in the NEC before suffering a 71-64 loss to the Hawks on January 11.

Monmouth’s Michelle Cappadona (Atlantic Highlands, NJ) closed with 23 points and 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season
and Jewonda Bright (Norfolk, VA) added 22 on 10-of-16 shooting and 14 rebounds for her third double-double in 2001-02.  Thompson
poured in 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting for the Hawks, who shot 43 percent (31-of-72).

The Hawks will return to action on January 14, as they host St. Francis College in a 7 p.m. matchup.