BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Four minutes in the first quarter ended up being the difference for the LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team Tuesday night. Visiting George Mason went on a 19-2 run to take an early lead on the Blackbirds, and that proved to be the difference in the game. LIU would play George Mason evenly for the rest of the contest, but fell, 64-48 in Steinberg Wellness Center. Senior Shanovia Dove scored 21 points to lead LIU, while freshman Aja Boyd had 10 points and seven rebounds, and freshman Gabrielle Caponegro had a team-high eight boards, along with five points, four steals and two blocks.

The Blackbirds got the scoring started Tuesday, and took an early lead, when senior Shanovia Dove and junior Drew Winter drained threes in the first two minutes of play to put LIU up, 6-2. George Mason scored seven points over the next two minutes to take the lead, but freshman Aja Boyd kept LIU close, with a layup that kept it 9-8 at 6:06. But a minute and a half later, the Blackbirds' defense broke down, and the Patriots went on a run. Six different players scored over the final four and a half minutes of the quarter, as a part of a 19-2 GMU scoring spree that put the visitors up, 28-10.

From there, however, the two teams were evenly matched, and spent the rest of the game trading baskets. George Mason took a 38-18 lead into half time, but the Blackbirds would keep battling in the second half. Dove would add a layup and a three pointer at 8:10 in the third quarter that cut the lead down to 16 points, 39-23. At that point, George Mason was able to hold the Blackbirds at arm's length, until the final minutes of the game. In the last seven minutes of play, LIU would outscore the Patriots, 12-5, including another three from Dove, and a last-second three pointer by freshman Seneca Richardss, that helped LIU cut the lead down to 16 points. In the end, George Mason took the win due to the early run, 64-48, to improve to 2-1 overall, while LIU moves to 0-2.

Up next, the Blackbirds hit the road to take on The Ohio State University, Saturday November 19 at 12 p.m.

NOTES FROM THE NEST
- 10 different George Mason players scored in the win for the Patriots, with Kara Wright the team's leading scorer with 10 points.
- Boyd went 4-for-5 from the floor, with 10 points.
- Dove had five three pointers as a part of her 21 points. She also had two assists and two steals in the loss.
- George Mason outrebounded LIU, 49-35