BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team scored 26 points from the free throw line Sunday afternoon, in a battle with the University at Buffalo that the Blackbirds won, 79-73. The two teams combined for 64 turnovers and 37 steals, while nine players scored in double digits in the clash at the Steinberg Wellness Center. The win is LIU's third straight. 

The Blackbirds (3-6) were led by junior Sophie Bhasin's 14 points, while Shanovia Dove (13 points), Shanice Vaughan (10 points), Brianna Farris (10 points) and Drew Winter (10 points) all helped propel LIU to the victory. Buffalo (6-4) was led by 17 points from Mackenzie Loesing, while Camera Miley (16 points), Kristen Sharkey (12 points) and Alexus Malone (10 points) also did damage for the Bulls. 

The visiting Bulls attempted to set the tone early in the game, scoring two quick baskets to take an early lead. But the Blackbirds, sparked by a layup from Shanovia Dove, would answer with eight straight points to take the lead at 15:42, 8-4. Buffalo kept it close, and retook the lead at 9:51 on a fast break layup, 15-14. Over the nest two minutes, LIU would score 11 unanswered points, widening the lead back up to 25-15. A late rally by the Bulls cut the gap to just one point, and the two teams went into the break with LIU up, 31-30. 

Buffalo rode that momentum into the second half, and came out of the break on a tear, forcing three LIU turnovers, and scoring nine straight points to take the lead, 39-31. The Blackbirds kept it close, and at 14:23, down 45-38, Shanice Vaughan sparked a run with her fast break layup. The Blackbirds would score seven straight points to tie it up at 45, and the two teams battled it out from there. 

Neither team would lead by more than four points for the next five minutes, as the lead changed hands multiple times, and the score would be tied up three more times. But the Bulls got in foul trouble, and it would cost them. Over the next three minutes, LIU would drain nine free throws as a part of a 14-2 run that gave the Blackbirds their widest lead of the day, 71-60.

Buffalo would stage a late rally, including a three-pointer from Camera Miley with seven seconds on the clock, but it was too little, too late, and the Blackbirds pulled out the 79-73 win. 

Up next, the Blackbirds travel west for two games in the Golden State. LIU will take on Long Beach State, Sunday, December 28 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time, before facing off with Cal State Bakersfield, Wednesday, December 30 at 10 p.m. ET. 

BLACKBIRD BITS 
• Junior Sophie Bhasin finished the game with 14 points, three steals and two assists, while sophomore Shanovia Dove had 13 points and six steals, both career highs. Sophomore Brianna Farris and Drew Winter both chipped in 10 points, while junior Shanice Vaughan had 10 points, four rebounds and three assists
• Senior Letava Whippy had a complete game, with five rebounds, five assists, four points and three steals.
• LIU shot 70.3% from the free throw line, going 26-for-37.
• The Blackbirds snagged a season-high 21 steals as a team.
• Buffalo out-rebounded LIU, 38-35, and had seven blocks in the defeat. They also outscored the Blackbirds in the paint, 36-26.