BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU Brooklyn women's team had another rough Northeast Conference loss at home Monday afternoon. The Blackbirds had the lead on conference-leader Central Connecticut State with just over two minutes left to play in the Steinberg Wellness Center, but couldn't close out, and fell to the Blue Devils, 76-71. It was LIU's highest point total of the season, behind a season-best 10 three-pointers made. Senior Shanovia Dove was a force for the Blackbirds, scoring 27 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing out a team-high four assists. Senior Brianna Farris drained five three pointers for 15 points, while freshman Aja Boyd added ten points.

Freshman Seneca Richards opened scoring for LIU (2-15, 1-5 NEC) with a three pointer in the first minute, setting the tone for the Blackbirds' offense.  CCSU followed up with a 10-2 run though, that gave the visitors a 10-5 advantage. Senior Shanovia Dove kept the Blackbirds in the game, scoring nine straight points for LIU to give the home team the lead, 16-15 with 1:43 to play in the first quarter. Farris would hit a three to widen the lead to 19-15 for LIU. CCSU would use a 6-0 run in the second quarter to retake the lead, 23-21, but the Blackbirds would finish the half outscoring CCSU, 12-5. A last second three-pointer by CCSU would cut in to the lead, but LIU was up, 33-31 at the break.

CCSU scored eight straight points coming out of the half, and that small cushion buoyed the Blue Devils for the remainder of the game. The Blackbirds would make several runs at the visiting team, led by Farris, who shot three-for-three from behind the arc in the second half. LIU's best attempt came in the fourth and final quarter. After a three by CCSU had put them up, 60-54 at the close of the third, Dove hit a layup as the buzzer sounded to cut the lead to just four points. Her efforts would spark the Blackbirds headed into the final stanza.

Sophomore Drew Winter was able to cut the lead to one point with a three at 8:47, 60-59, and from there, the two teams went back and forth. Farris would hit one of her five threes at 6:23 to tie the game at 62-62. Thought CCSU would retake the lead, freshman Victoria Powell tied it up again just 30 seconds later with a layup, and freshman Aja Boyd would keep LIU in the game with a layup at 3:11 that knotted the score at 66-66.

Senior Shanovia Dove gave the Blackbirds the lead with 2:29 to play when she made a free throw, but over the final two minutes of play as LIU would struggle to score, the Blue Devils would go a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line to seal the win. In the end, CCSU improved to 6-0 in NEC action with the 76-71 victory.

NOTES FROM THE NEST

• The 71 points was the most points scored by LIU so far this season, with 10 three-pointers the most the Blackbirds have made since their win over Howard in 2015 (12). LIU shot 62.5 percent from long range, and 42.4 percent from the field.
• Shanovia Dove had a season-high in points (27), rebounds (11) and assists (4) for LIU.
• Brianna Farris tied her career-high with 5 three-pointers made, scoring a season-high 15 points, along with two assists.
• Freshman Aja Boyd added then points in the win, while freshman Gabrielle Caponegro tied her career-high with eight points and six rebounds.
• Junior DeAngelique Waithe added eight rebounds for LIU, while Drew Winter tied the team-high with four assists.
• Senior guard Aleah Epps led the Blue Devils with 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Giocelis Reynoso added 18 points and Cebrina Outlow scored 10 points.
• CCSU went 27-for-29 from the free throw line in the win, and improved to 7-10 overall and 6-0 in the NEC.
• Up next, the Blackbirds cross state lines to take on Fairleigh Dickinson, Saturday, January 21 at 2 p.m.