LORETTO, Pa. – The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team led at halftime in DeGol Arena Saturday afternoon, but the Saint Francis Red Flash took control in the second half, using a late surge to take the win, 66-52. With the loss, LIU moves to 2-12 overall, 1-2 in Northeast Conference action, while SFU improves to 5-9 overall, 2-1 in the league. Senior Shanovia Dove led scoring for LIU with 17 points, while freshman Aja Boyd had her first collegiate double-double, putting up 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

Boyd opened scoring in the game, but Saint Francis would answer with five straight points from Ace Harrison to take the lead, 5-2. The home team would lead from there, until senior Shanovia Dove drained back to back threes to give LIU the lead, 8-7. The Blackbirds would finish the quarter on a 6-1 run, including two layups from Boyd to lead, 13-12.

The home team opened the second quarter with back-to-back threes from Courtney Zezza and Jessica Kovatch, but senior Brianna Farris would drain a three of her own 30 seconds later to tie the game back up. The Blackbirds dominated the rest of the quarter, going on an 11-3 run that saw five different players score for LIU. Dove would cap the run with two made free throws, giving LIU the 29-24 lead with 1:23 to play. SFU closed the half on a 5-1 run to help close the gap, but LIU lead at the break, 30-29.

Saint Francis's leading scorer Jessica Kovatch had been held to just eight points in the first half, but that changed in the second, as the sophomore guard opened the second half on a 7-0 run of her own, draining two threes and making a free throw to give the Red Flash a 36-30 lead. Boyd helped keep the game close, making a layup and two free throws to cut the gap down to 36-34 at the 7:09 mark, and a three-pointer from Dove gave LIU the lead once more, 37-36 at 5:41. Over the next three minutes, however, SFU went on a 9-0 run that widened the lead to eight points. Freshmen Autumn Ashe and Gabrielle Caponegro hit jumpers in the final 90 seconds to keep LIU in the game, but SFU's Courtney Zezza hit a shot as the clock ran down, and the home team led, 49-43 at the end of three periods.

The Blackbirds struggled with shooting in the fourth quarter, shooting 28 percent from the field, along with turning the ball over six times. The Red Flash capitalized, using a 12-4 run to widen the gulf to 14 points, 64-50 with 1:46 left to play. Though Boyd added one more layup before the game was over, the Red Flash took the win, 66-52
 
BLACKBIRD BITS

• Senior Shanovia Dove finished the game with 17 points, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Freshman Aja Boyd had her first collegiate double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman Gabrielle Caponegro added five points and seven rebounds, while classmate Autumn Ashe had six rebounds.
• The Blackbirds outrebounded the Red Flash, 49-46, and outscored SFU in the paint, 24-16.
• Jessica Kovatch led all scorers, with 21 points, including four threes. Ace Harrison was the only other SFU player in double figures, with 10 points.
• Up next, the Blackbirds head to Moon Township, Pa., where they'll face off with Robert Morris, Monday, January 9 at 7 p.m.