BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team scored six unanswered points in the final three minutes of play to make a run at Rider, and the Blackbirds had a chance to tie it up with four seconds to play, but the attempt fell short, as LIU lost to the Broncs, 59-56. Junior Sophie Bhasin led LIU with 13 points in the loss, while senior Letava Whippy chipped in eight points, 11 rebounds, two steals and a block.
 
The game was a series of runs right from the start. The visiting Broncs took a 4-2 lead early on, but LIU put together a 9-2 run, including a three pointer by Bhasin in the right corner to take the 11-6 lead with 13:31 to play. Rider answered the run with one of its own, scoring 12 unanswered points to take the lead.
 
LIU would continue to pressure the Broncs, and eventually, a layup from Whippy and a fast-break layup from junior Shanice Vaughan tied the game up at 23-23 with just under two minutes in the half. Rider would end the half with three made free throws, taking a 26-23 lead into the break.
 
Rider continued to widen the lead in the second half, opening with a quick layup. Bhasin answered with a deep three pointer to cut the lead to 28-26 at 19:20, but the Broncs kept the Blackbirds at arm's length. Junior Jahmia Phillips and sophomore Shanovia Dove made four free throws with just over six minutes left in the game to cut the lead down to 50-46, and from there, Rider's foul trouble let the Blackbirds get a foot in the door.
 
The Broncs would widen the lead back up to 59-50 with made free throws, but the Blackbirds made one final press in the last three minutes. Freshman Paris Jones hit a jumper, and Dove, Whippy and freshman Drew Winter all made free throws in the final minutes, cutting Rider's lead down to 59-56 with 41 seconds left. Two missed shots by the Broncs gave LIU a chance to tie it up, but the last-second shot fell short, and Rider took the win, 59-56.
 
Up next, the Blackbirds head uptown to take on New York City foe Columbia, Sunday, December 7 at 2 p.m.
 
BLACKBIRD BITS
- Rider outscored the Blackbirds in the paint, 32-15
- Bhasin led LIU with 13 points, along with five rebounds.
- Freshman Paris Jones had a season-high three steals
- Rider had two players score in double figures, as Robin Perkins had 14 points and Lashay Banks had 13.