JERSEY CITY, N.J.— The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team was unable to overcome a first half deficit, falling to Saint Peter's 86-59 on Saturday afternoon.
Freshman Kiara Bell led the Blackbirds in scoring with a career-high 16 points to go along with nine rebounds. Freshman Brandy Thomas tallied her fourth straight double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds. Sophomore Jeydah Johnson and first-year guards Camille Gray and Tiya Misir all finished with nine points.
LIU took the lead early in the first on buckets from rookie trio of Gray, Misir and Thomas to take a 6-2 lead. The high-powered Peacock offense found its footing, finishing the quarter on a 22-3 run to take the lead 24-9. That pace would carry over to the second quarter, continuing to hold the lead over the Blackbirds by taking a 42-17 lead into halftime.
The Blackbirds found some footing in the second half, putting together a 11-point run that saw Bell tally six points of her team-high 13 second half points but the home team kept its distance. LIU kept pace in the second half only getting outscored 44-42 in the final 20 minutes of play but the Peacocks sealed the game 86-59.
Up next, the Blackbirds travel out west for the Grand Canyon Thanksgiving Classic from November 23-24. LIU will take on UC Irvine first on Friday, November 23 at 4:00 p.m.
Notes from the Nest
- Bell, Gray and Misir all tallied career highs in scoring.
- Thomas currently leads the NEC with her four double-doubles to start the season.
- With her 16 points, Bell tied the team-high in scoring for the season.
- LIU out rebounded Saint Peter's 43-39 on the afternoon.