Sharks can’t keep up with Blue Hens

LIU comeback bid snuffed by Delaware in 75-67 loss

December 2, 2021 John Torenli, Sports Editor

Brooklyn's Isaac Kante had the touch, but the LIU men's basketball squad ulimately fell short at Delaware Tuesday night. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

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Brooklyn natives Eral Penn and Isaac Kante scored 17 points apiece, but it wasn’t enough as Long Island University suffered a 75-67 loss to Delaware in front of 1,451 fans at the Bob Carpenter Center.

Penn and Kante, who went a combined 13-of-26 from the floor with 17 rebounds, helped the Sharks (1-5) forge a pair of second-half ties after trailing 45-33 at intermission.

But the Blue Hens (5-3) responded as Andrew Carr, who scored a game-high 18 points, had six during a game-breaking 8-0 run that put LIU behind to stay, 71-62, with just over four minutes remaining in regulation.

Though the Sharks scored five straight points thereafter, Delaware shut the door on a basket by Dylan Painter and Ryan Allen’s thunderous dunk.

“This was a tough game. I thought we got into a good rhythm on the offensive end in the first half, and then it was a hard second half,” said Blue Hens head coach Martin Ingelsby.

“They made their run, and I’m proud of how we responded once they tied it. We had to do some tough stuff.”

Ty Flowers added 14 points for the Sharks, who failed to build on their first win of the year, an impressive 99-65 rout of visiting Delaware State Saturday at the Wellness Center in Downtown Brooklyn.

LIU was aiming for a quick rebound Thursday night at Towson University in Maryland.

Erykah Russell and the LIU ladies lost a heartbreaker to Army on Flatbush Avenue Wednesday night. Photo courtesy of LIU Athletics

While the men’s team was losing in Delaware, the LIU ladies flirted with their first win of the campaign before enduring a tough 74-71 loss to Army Wednesday night on Flatbush Avenue.

Leading 71-70 with 47 seconds remaining after Emaia O’Brien hit a free throw, the Sharks were undone by Kamryn Hall’s jumper in the paint with 31 ticks left on the clock.

Danielle Grim and Erykah Russell had 15 points each for LIU, which will return to action Friday night at the University of Vermont.

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Over on Remsen Street, St. Francis Brooklyn freshman middle blocker Cristal Paulino will be representing her native Puerto Rico during this month’s 2021 Junior Pan-American Games in Cali, Columbia.

Paulino, a native of San Juan, will be competing as a member of the Under-23 women’s volleyball team.

She previously played on Puerto Rico’s Under-18 team. but will now begin participating in pool play alongside her more experienced teammates this week with three games against Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Peur, respectively.

“We are so proud of Cristal for receiving this invite to represent Puerto Rico. Competing in the Junior Pan-American Games is a great opportunity for her to face some of the top international competition in women’s volleyball,” said SFC head coach Amable Martinez.

SFC Brooklyn freshman Cristal Paulino is on her way to Columbia to represent her native Puerto Rico at the Junior Pan-American Games. Photo courtesy of SFC Brooklyn Athletics

Paulino completed her first season as a Terrier with impressive numbers this year, leading the team in points (242), total blocks (92), and blocks per game (0.89) through 103 sets played.

She also had the second-most kills (187) on the team.

“This will be another step in her development as a young student-athlete, and we know she will make Puerto Rico and St. Francis proud!,” Amable added.