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.