BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team scored 14 points in the final 44 seconds of play Monday evening in the Steinberg Wellness Center, closing Columbia's lead to just eight points, but it was not enough, as the visiting Lions rallied in the final seconds to take the win, 84-74.
 
The game started on a close note, as neither team would lead by more than three points for much of the first quarter. Columbia opened the game with a quick basket off the jump ball, but LIU would answer back with back-to-back jumpers, taking the 4-2 lead at 8:03. From there, the two teams would stay close, with the score being tied five more times over the next eight minutes. The Lions closed out the period on a strong note, using an 8-2 run to take the lead, 23-17 heading into the second period.
 
The visiting team extended that lead as the Blackbirds got off to a slow start in the second. Columbia opened the period scoring 10 points over the first five minutes to LIU's two, widening the gap to 33-19 midway through the period. Junior Shanovia Dove had two three-pointers in the final five minutes of the period, helping close the lead to 37-28.
 
The Blackbirds came out of halftime ready to play, and a minute into the third period, a layup by senior Jolanna Ford sparked an LIU run. The home team would outscore Columbia 9-3 over the next four minutes, cutting the lead down to seven, 47-40. Junior Brianna Farris hit two free throws at 3:50 to cut into the lead even further, 49-43.
 
Columbia would make a push at the end of the third period that stretched into the start of the fourth. Over a six-minute span, the Lions outscored LIU 15-1, going up 70-50 with just under six minutes left in the game. Columbia would hold on to that lead until the final minutes of the game. Down 78-60 with 1:19 on the clock, the Blackbirds began a rally. Junior Brianna Farris would drain four three-pointers in36 seconds to cute the lead to just eight points, 82-74. But the Lions were able to make two free throws in the final moments to stave off the LIU rally and clinch the win, 84-74.
 
Up next, the Blackbirds travel to take on Stony Brook, Monday, December 21 at 7 p.m.
 
NOTES FROM THE NEST
- Junior Shanovia Dove led LIU with 21 points, including shooting 6-for-8 from long distance.
- Junior Brianna Farris had 20 points, including 12 in the final 44 seconds of the game. Farris went 5-for-6 from behind the arc, and a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line. She also had a career-high six rebounds in the loss.
- Senior Ashley Brown had 10 points and a career-high in both assists (5) and rebounds (3).
- Senior Jolanna Ford added 10 points, seven rebounds, and a career-high two blocks.
- As a team, LIU set season highs in assists (17), three-pointers made (12), and blocks (4). LIU also had a season-low 13 turnovers.
- The Blackbirds shot 57.1 percent from free throw range, and 48.2 percent from the field.
- Camille Zimmerman led Columbia with 27 points (shooting 11-for-15 from the field) and nine rebounds.