BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team lost to local rival St. Francis Brooklyn on a snowy Saturday afternoon in the Steinberg Wellness Center. The two teams faced off despite winter storm Jonas hitting New York City, and the Blackbirds, hampered by injury, had only six players take the court, in a game that would go to the Terriers, 71-51. With the loss, LIU stands at 5-13 overall, 3-4 in Northeast Conference play, while SFBK improves to 4-14 overall, 1-6 in the NEC.

The Terriers jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, using two three pointers by senior Leah Fechko to go up, 6-0. Senior Jolanna Ford got LIU on the board at the 8:17 mark with a layup, but the Terriers would hold on the to lead for most of the first quarter. The Blackbirds started to make up the difference in the final five minutes of the period. A layup from DeAngelique Waithe, followed by one from senior Shanice Vaughan at 3:23, and LIU had cut the lead down to three, 13-10. Two minutes later, a layup from Vaughn cut the gap to 15-14, and junior Brianna Farris gave the Blackbirds the lead a minute later, with a layup and one at the 42-second mark. She converted the tradition three point play, and the Blackbirds led, 17-15. SFBK would add a layup just before the clock ran down, and the two teams were tied, 17-17 after one period of play.

The second period saw the visiting Terriers open on a 6-0 run, and once again, the Blackbirds were forced to battle back. A layup by sophomore Stylz Sanders at 6:38 cut the lead to four, 23-19, and 20 seconds later, she did it again, putting LIU in striking distance, 23-21 at 6:17. A minute later, a three-ponter by Farris gave LIU the lead, 26-25, and the two teams went back and forth from there. The quarter ended with two jumpers in the paint from the Terriers, and St. Francis Brooklyn took a 38-34 lead into halftime.

A difficult third quarter proved to be the difference in the game for the Blackbirds. St. Francis Brooklyn opened the second half on a 9-0 run, widening the lead to 47-34. Farris would score five points over the next minute to start to make up the obstacles, but another SFBK run, this time a 12-2 spread, put the Terriers up 61-43 at the end of the third quarter. Both teams struggled to score in the fourth quarter, and in the end, the Terriers took the win, 71-51.

Stylz Sanders led LIU with 14 points, while Brianna Farris had 13 points and a career-high five steals. Senior Shanice Vaughan had 12 points and three assists, while DeAngelique Waithe tied her career-high with 12 rebounds and three steals.

Up next, the Blackbirds take on Fairleigh Dickinson in a rescheduled game. Originally scheduled for Monday, January 25, the Blackbirds and the Knights will instead play Tuesday, January 26 at 7 p.m.