Box Score

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – For the first time in four years, St. Francis Brooklyn is taking home the Battle of Brooklyn trophy, as the Terriers beat the LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team 69-58 in the Wellness Center Monday night.
 
St. Francis' Leah Fechko was named the Battle of Brooklyn MVP, leading SFC with 18 points and nine rebounds.
 
The Terriers led early in the game, and never relinquished the lead. St. Francis forward Sarah Benedetti, who had three three-pointers in the first five minutes, helping SFC to a 12-8 lead early in the game.  Benedetti sparked a run that spanned nearly nine minutes, which saw the Terriers outscore the Blackbirds, 24-2. LIU did not score a field goal for the entire span, until 7:19, when sophomore Letava Whippy made a layup, making it 33-12.
 
The 21-point lead gave the Terriers a cushion for the rest of the half. Despite strong paint play from senior Tamika Guz and junior Cleandra Roberts, who would score a combined 14 points in the first half, SFC tok the 43-25 lead into the break.
 
Krystal Wells gave the Blackbirds hope in the start of the second half, when she hit back-to-back-to-back three pointers in just under two minutes, to close the lead to 45-34 at 17:51. A long stretch of missed shots and turnovers by both teams had the score locked at 52-38 for five minutes of the second half.
 
With just over seven minutes to play, LIU's shots began to fall, and the Blackbirds were able to pull within striking distance. A traditional three-point play by Wells brought LIU within 10, 61-51 at 3:39.
 
But the Terriers would hold on to the lead they had, and in the end, took the Battle of Brooklyn, 69-58.
 
Senior Krystal Wells led the Blackbirds with 20 points, all scored in the second half of play, while junior Cleandra Roberts had 11 points and nine rebounds. Senior Tamika Guz chipped in eight points, while sophomore Letava Whippy had eight points, six rebounds and four steals.
 
With the loss, LIU Brooklyn is now 4-15 overall, 1-7 in NEC play. Up next for the Blackbirds is a nationally televised game with Robert Morris. The game will air on ESPN3, and take place Saturday, February 2 at 12 p.m.