NEWARK, N.J. – The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team had a hard-fought first win of the season Thursday night, as the Blackbirds used a second-half surge, 17 team steals, and 20 points from junior Sophie Bhasin to beat NJIT, 57-48. Freshman Paris Jones chipped in a season-high 10 points, all of which were scored in the second half to help lift LIU to the win at the Fleisher Athletic Center.

Both team struggled to score in the first half, as both teams shot just 25 percent from the field. NJIT opened the game on an 8-2 run, including two three pointers from senior center Nicole Maticka. Junior Sophie Bhasin had a three-pointer for LIU, and freshman Drew Winter hit a long jumper just after the 13 minute mark to help the Blackbirds close the gap to 11-7. From there, the Highlanders went on another run, this time outscoring the Blackbirds 9-2, to take a 20-9 lead with 9:58 to play. But the home team wouldn't score another field goal for the remainder of the half.

The Blackbirds took advantage of the scoring draught by NJIT to make a move. A jumper from senior Ashley Brown started the scoring for the Blackbirds. Bhasin hit a jumper in the paint at 5:16 to cut the lead to 20-15. From there, freshman Angel Waithe hit a layup at 2:50, and Bhasin had a put back layup with 14 seconds left to put the halftime score at 22-20.

NJIT opened the second half with a quick layup, but Bhasin answered with a layup and made the free throw, cutting the lead to 24-23. Just one minute later, Bhasin made a layup off the inbounds play, giving LIU its first lead of the game, 25-24 at 18:41. The two teams would stay close from there, including when Mitcka hit a three at 12:48 to tie the game up at 29.

But two minutes later, freshman Paris Jones gave LIU the lead back for good. Her jumper at the top of the key put the Blackbirds up, 35-34 at 10:08. Over the next seven minutes, LIU would outscore NJIT, 15-5, including back-to-back three pointers from Jones. Those threes gave the Blackbirds a 48-39 lead with 3:12 left in the game.

NJIT made a late push in the final two minutes of play, cutting the lead to just five points, but Bhasin and freshman Drew Winter finished the game hitting six straight free throws in the final 22 seconds to seal the Blackbirds' 57-48 win.
 
Bhasin led LIU in the win, with 20 points and 10 rebounds, her first career double-double. Jones added 10 points, as she went 2-for-2 from behind the arc. Senior Letava Whippy had a team-high six steals in the win, along with eight rebounds. Freshman Drew Winter added seven points and two steals. With the win, LIU improves to 1-6 on the season, and will host Howard University, this Sunday, December 14 at 1 p.m.