SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team fell to Bryant in the Chace Athletic Center Saturday afternoon, 63-55. With the loss, LIU now stands at 4-12 on the season, 2-3 in the Northeast Conference, while Bryant improves to 8-8 overall, 5-0 in the NEC. The Blackbirds were led by senior
Shanice Vaughan's 21 points, including eight in the final three minutes of the game.
The two teams opened the game on an even note, but Bryant would quickly go on a 10-2 run over four minutes that would give the home team a 12-4 lead. From there, the Bulldogs continued to hold LIU at arm's length, using a three and a layup to take an 18-9 lead with 1:38 left in the first quarter. Senior
Shanice Vaughan had back-to-back layups in the final 90 seconds of the quarter to help LIU cut the lead down to 18-13.
The second quarter saw the Blackbirds continue to advance on the Bulldogs. Junior
Brianna Farris hit two threes, and Vaughan would make a layup at 2:08 that put LIU within one point, 26-25. A minute later, senior
Jolanna Ford and junior
Shanovia Dove had two layups within 20 second of each other that gave the Blackbirds their first lead of the game, 29-28 with 1:10 left in the half. Bryant would score 20 seconds later, and the Bulldogs led by one at the half, 30-29.
Scoring was slow to get going in the second half. Sophomore
Paris Jones hit a three pointer at 6:40 to tie it up, 32-32, but from there, Bryant went on a 7-0 run, retaking the game momentum and going up, 39-32. Towards the end of the quarter, the Blackbirds would go on a small run of their own. Ford had a layup at 3:16, followed by two free throws from Vaughan, and a jumper from Dove with 24 seconds left in the third quarter, closing the gap to 41-39.
LIU struggled to score in the fourth quarter, while Bryant came out and went on a 14-4 tear that would give the Bulldogs their widest lead of the game, 56-45 with 3:20 left to play. Vaughan would lead LIU's charge, as the senior scored eight points in the final three minutes of the game, but Bryant went 7-for-8 from the free throw line to hold the Blackbirds at arm's length and take the win, 63-55.
Up next, LIU will travel to take on cross-borough rival Wagner, Monday, January 18 at 7 p.m.
NOTES FROM THE NEST- Shanice Vaughan led LIU with 21 points. Senior Jolanna Ford added 10 points and nine rebounds, while junior Shanovia Dove had 10 points and four rebounds.
- Breanna Rucker led Bryant with 25 points and 12 rebounds.