BOCA RATON, FLA. – The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team had a slow start Wednesday evening at the Florida Atlantic Holiday Tournament in FAU Arena, and that would prove to be the difference for the Blackbirds in their 68-55 loss to Bethune-Cookman. With the loss, LIU is now 2-9 on the season. The game was the final non-conference tune-up for the Blackbirds before the Northeast Conference slate begins January 2.  

The Wildcats took control early in the game, using strong paint play to take an early 12-2 lead. The Blackbirds would struggle to score, shooting 12.5 percent from the field, to B-CU's 66.7 percent. Bethune-Cookman's Kailyn Williams would continue to widen the lead with back-to-back layups, putting the Wildcats up, 16-2. The Blackbirds finished the quarter with a 27-6 deficit.

Bethune would widen that lead to 29-9 in the start of the second quarter, before LIU would start to score with regularity. The Blackbirds ended up going on a 10-0 run that would span three minutes, and cut the lead to 29-18 with just over four and a half minutes left in the half. The Blackbirds ended the half with a three-pointer from senior Shanice Vaughan that helped LIU cut the gap to 38-25.

LIU would continue to chip away at the lead in the start of the second half. A three-pointer and a jumper in the paint from sophomore Paris Jones helped the Blackbirds cut the lead to nine points, 42-33 with 7:39 on the clock. Sophomore Stylz Sanders would then make a layup up, and two free throws to cut the gap to seven points, 44-37 at 4:41.  It was the closest LIU would come, however, as a 12-3 run by the Wildcats pushed Bethune-Cookman back on top for good, 57-40 at the end of the third period.

The fourth quarter saw the Blackbirds once again chip away at the lead, but it was too little, too late for LIU. Jones would end the game by hitting a three, grabbing a steal and making the fast break layup, to cut the final score to 68-55.

Sophomore Stylz Sanders led LIU with 11 points, eight rebounds and two steals, while classmate Paris Jones added 11 points, three steals and two assists. Sophomore DeAngelique Waithe added 10 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while junior Shanovia Dove had 10 points and six rebounds.

Senior Shanice Vaughan was named to the All-Tournament team for her play throughout the tournament.

Up next, the Blackbirds open NEC season on the road, traveling south to take on Mount St. Mary's, Saturday, January 2 at 4:30 p.m.