BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team dropped a midweek non-conference match-up in the Steinberg Wellness Center Wednesday night, as the Blackbirds fell to NJIT, 53-44, in a game that saw the two teams combine for 53 turnovers, 19 steals and over 30 fouls. With the loss, the Blackbirds stand at 2-5 on the season.

NJIT opened scoring in the game, but the Blackbirds took the lead a minute in, when junior Brianna Farris hit a three-pointer to put LIU up, 3-2. NJIT would answer with a three of its own, and the Highlanders led from there. Senior Shanice Vaughan helped the Blackbirds keep up, when her steal and fast break layup tied the score up, 7-7 with 7:07 to play. NJIT would widen the gap with a 6-0 run, and closed the quarter scoring five unanswered points to widen the lead to 18-8.

The Blackbirds opened the second quarter with a jumper from Farris to cut the lead down to eight points, but NJIT was able to widen the lead back to ten points, and held on to the momentum from there. Farris and sophomore Paris Jones hit back-to-back three pointers to cut the lead down to 22-18 with 1:37 left in the half, but NJIT drained a three with 44 seconds left, and took the 25-18 lead into the break.

LIU made a quick run two minutes into the second half, when sophomore Stylz Sanders hit a jump shot, and ten seconds later, Vaughan followed it up with a quick steal and a layup, cutting NJIT's lead down to 27-22 at the 8:18 mark. Jones brought the Blackbirds within four with her three pointer at 3:06, 38-34, and Vaughan scored four straight points to end the period, cutting NJIT's lead to just two points, 40-38.

The Highlanders hit a three to start the fourth quarter off, but the Blackbirds stayed close, using two made free throws from Waithe at 5:20 to keep it within four points.  But over the next three minutes, NJIT would outscore LIU, 6-0 to widen the lead back up to ten points, 52-42 with 1:38 to play. LIU had some crucial calls in the final 90 seconds of the game, forcing NJIT into two turnovers, but the Blackbirds couldn't convert on offense, and the Highlanders took the win, 53-44.

NOTES FROM THE NEST
- Junior Brianna Farris led LIU with 13 points in the loss. The guard also added five rebounds, four steals and three assists.
- Senior Shanice Vaughan had 12 points, five rebounds, five steals and four assists, while senior Jolanna Ford led LIU on the boards, with 12 rebounds.
- NJIT had three players score in double digits, led by Leah Horton, with 16 points. Horton and Camerian Spahn combined for six blocked shots.  
- Up next, the Blackbirds host Columbia, Monday, December 14 at 7 p.m.