BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team won the 23^rd Annual Battle of Brooklyn in the Pope PE Center Saturday afternoon, defeating St. Francis Brooklyn in an overtime thriller, 65-62. The Blackbirds, who led for nearly the entire contest, notched their first win over St. Francis Brooklyn since 2012-13, and improved to 8-16 on the season, and 6-7 in Northeast Conference action. Senior Shanice Vaughan was named the Battle of Brooklyn MVP, with 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the victory.

The Blackbirds set a strong tone right from tip, going up 6-1 on the Terriers. SFBK would come back to tie it up at 6 shortly after, but junior Shanovia Dove would hit a three from the top of the arc to put LIU back on top, 9-6 with 4:31 to play. The two teams would battle from there, and the Terriers would come back to take a one point lead, 12-11, two minutes later.

Over the next four minutes, however, the Blackbirds went on a tear, scoring 14 unanswered points. Sophomore Stylz Sanders sparked the run with a layup, and senior Ashley Brown and Dove both drained three pointers that would help LIU take a 25-12 lead at the start of the second quarter. The Terriers would continue to try and stay close, but the difference was too much, and LIU took a 32-25 lead into the break.

Coming out of the break, a reinvigorated SFBK squad had two quick layups in the first minute to close the gap to three points, 32-29 just 45 seconds into the quarter. The Terriers would continue to chip away at the lead, using an 8-3 run over the next three minutes to tie the score up, 37-37 with 3:54 left in the period. LIU used another Sanders' score to spark a run, and seven unanswered points later, LIU was back in control, 44-37.

But the home team continued to keep the pressure on, and opened the fourth quarter scoring three straight baskets to take the lead, 46-45. LIU struggled to score, and wouldn't get back on the board until over five minutes had ticked off the fourth quarter clock. The two teams stayed close, and in the final two minutes of regulation, it was anybody's game. Two layups from SFBK's Lead Fechko gave the home team a lead, 53-51 with 12 seconds left to play, but Shanice Vaughan was able to score in the clutch, making a layup with five seconds left to knot the score at 53. St. Francis's last second shot fell short, and the two teams went into overtime.

LIU opened the extra period in strong form, as senior Jolanna Ford made two free throws, and Dove hit a three pointer to put the Blackbirds up, 58-53. With 1:36 left to play, SFBK made a layup, and then converted on 3-of-4 free throws to tie the game up with 43 seconds on the clock. But the Blackbirds were able to pull through. A layup from Vaughan gave LIU back the lead, 62-60 with 30 seconds left, and in the final five seconds of play, Dove drained three free throws to ice the win for LIU, 65-62.

Junior Shanovia Dove led all scorers with 24 points, along with eight rebounds. Vaughan had 22 points, shooting 69 percent from the field, and seven rebounds and six assists in the win.

Up next, the Blackbirds host Central Connecticut State, Monday, February 15 at 7 p.m.