BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team rallied in the fourth quarter to close the lead to just five points with three minutes left in the game, but it would not be enough, as the Blackbirds dropped their Northeast Conference home opener, 84-75 to Saint Francis U. With the loss, LIU stands at 4-10 on the season, 2-1 in the NEC.

Junior Shanovia Dove opened the game on a strong note for LIU, draining a three pointer at 9:34 to get the Blackbirds on the board, 3-0. Saint Francis took control shortly thereafter, scoring seven unanswered points to take the lead, 7-3. LIU rallied back at the end of the fourth quarter, going on a 7-2 run that spanned two minutes, and would cut the lead down to one, 13-12 with 1:59 to play.

The start of the second quarter, however, is where the Red Flash started to pull away. Saint Francis went on an 11-0 run over four minutes that put the visiting team up, 32-17. LIU would cut the lead down to ten points by the break, and SFU led, 37-27 at the half.

The Blackbirds surged to start the second half, led by sophomore Paris Jones, who's two made free throws and a three cut Saint Francis' lead to 39-34. Every time LIU threatened, the Red Flash would manage to regain their foothold. SFU maintained its distance throughout the third quarter, and led by 10, 64-54 heading into the fourth and final period.

The Red Flash added to that lead in the start of the fourth, going on a 12-5 run that would put them up by 17 points, 76-59 with 5:55 left in the game. The Blackbirds started to take control, sparked by a three-pointer from junior Brianna Farris, and a surge began. Over the next three minutes, LIU went on a massive run, outscoring SFU, 13-1. Sophomore Stylz Sanders helped lead the charge with six points in the stretch, while Jones went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line to cap the run, and close the lead to 77-72, with 2:42 on the clock. But LIU couldn't sustain the momentum, and the Red Flash was able to regain control of the tempo in the final two minutes of the game. In the end, the visiting team took the win, 84-75.

Up next, LIU hosts Robert Morris, Monday, January 11 at 7 p.m.

NOTES FROM THE NEST
- Sophomores Stylz Sanders and Paris Jones led LIU in the loss. Sanders had a career-high 14 points and six rebounds, while Jones had 12 points and three steals.
- Juniors Shanovia Dove and Brianna Farris added 11 points each, while Dove led the squad with nine rebounds.
- Sophomore DeAngelique Waithe added nine points in the loss, while senior Shanice Vaughan led the team with four assists.
- Saint Francis scored 31 points off of 27 Blackbird turnovers.
- The Red Flash was led by freshman Jessica Kovatch, who scored 30 points, while freshman Katie Reese had 13 points in the SFU victory.