BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team dropped its matchup to NJIT, 72-51 on Sunday afternoon. The Blackbirds were unable to find consistency on the offensive end as the Highlanders claimed the non-conference game at the Steinberg Center.

Sophomore Jeydah Johnson finished with a team-high 20 points on 8-13 shooting for LIU. Freshman Brandy Thomas added eight points and a team-high seven rebounds and four blocks. Sophomore Tia Montagne dished out a career-high six assists.
NJIT would make the first run to open the game with a 9-3 lead just 3:20 into the first quarter, forcing a LIU timeout. The Blackbirds responded with a 8-2 run over the next two minutes paced by a pair of baskets from Johnson, bringing the score to 12-11. Back and forth play would ensue for the remainder of the period with LIU ending on a four point run on jumpers from freshman Shyla Sanford and Thomas to take a one-point deficit into the quarter break at 20-19.

The Highlanders created separation to start the second quarter with a 7-0 run through the first five minutes of play. Johnson broke up that stretch with a three-pointer at 4:53 in the period. NJIT ended the second on an 11-3 closing run to take a 38-25 lead into the half.

Third period saw the visitors extend their lead early with a six-point opening run to take a 44-25 lead three minutes into the third. LIU eventually got going just under the halfway mark in the period with a solid 14-5 stretch on six-of-eight shooting to end the period. The Blackbirds would out score the Highlanders 20-16 in the third with a buzzer beater by Montagne cutting the NJIT lead to 54-45 heading into the fourth.
Momentum quickly shifted back to the Highlanders to open the fourth as an 8-0 stretch over the first 3:46 in the period cut the Blackbirds hopes for a comeback. The lead would continue to hold as the period went on as LIU was held to just six points in the final quarter as NJIT took the matchup 72-51.

Turnovers plagued the Blackbirds as the Highlanders netted 32 points off the 26 LIU turnovers.

Up next, The Blackbirds will hold a 10-day break for finals before resuming its non-conference slate on Thursday, December 20 with a trip to Lehigh.

Notes from the Nest

• Johnson recorded her third 20-point effort of the season on a season-high .615 shooting from the field.
• Thomas' double-double streak came to a close at seven as she fell just short with eight points and seven rebounds.
• Montagne set a new career-high with six assists in the game.
• As a team, LIU swatted away a team single-game high nine blocks. Thomas recorded a career-high four blocks and sophomore Ella Vaatanen added a career-high three blocks.