BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team opened the 2016-17 season at home in the Steinberg Wellness Center Saturday night, taking on the Black Knights of Army. The Blackbirds fell to the defending Patriot League champions, 68-47. Freshman Aja Boyd led LIU in her collegiate debut, with nine points, seven rebounds, three blocks and a steal.

Turnovers plagued LIU in the loss, as the Blackbirds had 32 turnovers as a team, with Army scoring 30 of their points off of those turnovers.

LIU got off to a strong start, scoring first just seven seconds into the game, when senior Shanovia Dove drained a three pointer. Less than a minute later, Boyd made a layup, and LIU led, 5-2. The Blackbirds would hold on to that lead for a chunk of the first quarter, widening it to 7-4 on a jumper from sophomore Drew Winter at 5:56.

Army would tie it up with a three a minute and a half later, and took the lead for good at 3:06, 9-7. LIU managed to stay close from there. Freshman Victoria Powell had a layup with 1:44 left in the first quarter that would keep LIU within two, 11-9.

Towards the end of the second quarter, however, the Black Knights started to pull away. After junior DeAngelique Waithe had a layup to cut the lead to 23-17 at 6:49, Army went on a run. The visitors would score nine unanswered points to go up on the Blackbirds, 30-17, and took a 12 point lead into half time.

Coming out of the break, a layup from Boyd and a jumper from Winter helped LIU close the gap down single digits, 31-22, but another Black Knight run spelled trouble. Over the next five minutes, LIU would struggle with turnovers, and Army went on an 11-0 run to take a 20 point lead, 42-22.

That run made the difference in the game. From there, LIU finished the game on even footing with Army, going point for point. But the damage was done, and the Knights took the win, 68-47, to open the 2016-17 season 1-0.

Up next, the Blackbirds host George Mason, Tuesday, November 15 at 7 p.m.

NOTES FROM THE NEST
- Senior Shanovia Dove finished with eight points and two rebounds.
- Freshman Victoria Powell had seven points in her debut, while Dionne Coe and Drew Winter both scored six.
- Junior DeAngelique Waithe was second on the team with five rebounds.
- The Black Knights finished the day with 20 steals.
- Army's Madison Jovren led all scorers with 22 points, and had five steals and six rebounds.