BROOKLYN, N.Y.  ---- Despite having three players scoring in double figures and putting together a furious fourth quarter rally, the LIU Brooklyn women's basketball fell to the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers in the 25th Annual Battle of Brooklyn, 64-54, Saturday afternoon at the Pope Physical Education Center.

Freshman Jeydah Johnson led LIU (9-16, 5-9 NEC) with 15 points while graduate transfer Denisha Petty-Evans scored 14 points and senior DeAngelique Waithe added 10.

LIU fell behind from the opening tip and saw its deficit swell to 21 points (52-31) by the end of the third quarter but used the final ten minutes to claw its way back into contention. The Blackbirds scored a game-high 23 points in the period and held the biggest scoring differential (13) of the game as St. Francis saw its lead cut down to seven (57-50) in the final minute of the game.

The 19-5 run began with 12 unanswered points over seven minutes, including five from Johnson and three from sophomore Seneca Richards.

LIU was strategic with its late game execution but SFBK was able to hold off the Blackbirds by going 7-for-10 from the free throw line in the last 45 seconds.

OTHER NOTES

• Freshman Ella Vaatanen earned her first start of her career against the Terriers. The newcomer played six minutes and pulled down one rebound.
• Petty-Evans scored nine of her 14 points in a second quarter that saw her produce all of the Blackbirds' offense. She also set a new season high with four assists, topping her previous mark of three that she reached on five occasions
• With 11 assists and 11 turnovers Saturday, LIU has had an assist tally equal or greater than its turnover amount in five games this year (4-1 in those games).
• Freshman Tia Montagne made her second straight start and finished with two points and three assists, one shy of her season's best.

NEXT UP
LIU will head to New Jersey to face Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday, February 24 at 2 p.m.