BOCA RATON, FLA. – The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team fell in its first game at the Florida Atlantic Holiday Tournament Tuesday night in FAU Arena, as the Blackbirds dropped a 68-49 decision to the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks.

LIU opened the game with a strong first quarter. Senior Jolanna Ford got the Blackbirds on the board first with an early layup, and followed that with a jumper from the elbow to put LIU up, 4-0 with six minutes left in the quarter. Miami came back to take the lead, 5-4, but LIU would answer with an 8-0 run, taking the lead, 12-5.

The second quarter proved to be a polar opposite from the first. The RedHawks opened scoring with a three-pointer that would cut the lead down to 12-11. Junior Shanovia Dove gave LIU a six point cushion with her three-pointer at the seven minute mark, 17-11, but Miami took control from there. The RedHawks ended the second quarter going on a 20-0 run over the last seven minutes. In that span, Miami forced seven LIU turnovers, holding the Blackbirds scoreless, and taking a 31-17 lead into halftime.

The offensive output continued for the RedHawks into the third quarter, when Miami would eventually take its largest lead of the game, 46-26, with 3:32 left in the third. But the Blackbirds weren't done yet. Over a minute and a half towards the end of the period, LIU would go on an 8-2 run, closing the gap to just 12 points, 48-36.

LIU's scoring efforts continued into the fourth period, when a three by sophomore Paris Jones helped LIU go on a 5-0 run, cutting the lead to nine points, 50-41 with 6:31 left to play. Dove would then hit back-to-back three pointers, cutting Miami's lead to 54-47 with 4:02 on the clock. But the Blackbirds were in foul trouble, and the RedHawks would capitalize on that as the clock wound down. Miami went 12-for-13 from the charity stripe in the final minutes of the game, winning by a final score of 68-49.

Up next, the Blackbirds will take on Bethune-Cookman in the tournament's consolation game, Wednesday, December 30 at 5 p.m.
 
NOTES FROM THE NEST

• Shanovia Dove led LIU with 19 points, and added five rebounds.
• Senior Jolanna Ford led all players with 10 rebounds, while senior Shanice Vaughan led all players with five steals, and scored 11 points.
• Bethune Cookman went 21-for-24 from the free throw line in the win (87.5%)
• LIU had a season-high 16 steals in the loss, forcing 25 RedHawk turnovers.