BROOKLYN, N.Y. - A career-high 20 points in the second half from sophomore Shanovia Dove would not be enough for the Blackbirds Monday night in the Steinberg Wellness Center, as visiting Robert Morris beat the LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team, 77-58. The Colonials (12-11, 10-2 Northeast Conference) jumped ahead early in the game, and led the Blackbirds (7-16, 4-8 NEC) for the entire contest. 

Robert Morris got on the board first and often, as the visiting team opened the game on a 19-0 run, holding LIU scoreless for eight and a half minutes. Freshman DeAngelique Waithe drained two free throws to get the Blackbirds on the board, and sophomore Demi Tomlinson had LIU's first field goal of the day two minutes later, at 9:25. But the distance set early on proved to be too much to overcome for the Blackbirds, and Robert Morris took a 44-18 lead into halftime. 

Scoring leveled out in the second stanza, as LIU opened the half on an 8-4 run, cutting the lead to 48-26. Back-to-back three pointers from Dove cut the lead to 55-32 at 14:44, and LIU would continue to work from there. With just over six minutes remaining left in the game, the Blackbirds managed to hold RMU scoreless for two minutes of play, going on a 9-0 run to close the lead to 71-53. But the 18-point difference was as close as the Blackbirds would come. A last second three-pointer by freshman Drew Winter helped LIU cut the final lead to 19 points, 77-58. 

Up next, the Blackbirds hit the road to take on Saint Francis U and Robert Morris, Saturday, February 14, and Monday, February 16. 

BLACKBIRD BITS 
• Sophomore Shanovia Dove had a career-high 20 points, all of which came in the second half. 
• Junior Sophie Bhasin had eight points, seven rebounds and four assists. 
• RMU's Anna Nikki Stamolamprou led all players with 24 points. 
• LIU Brooklyn shot 80 percent from the free throw line Monday, and made a season-high 10 three pointers in the loss.