BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team fell to rival St. Francis Brooklyn, 69-57 in the 26^th annual Battle of Brooklyn on Monday afternoon. The Blackbirds battled the Terriers in a tightly contested opening half before the visitors used a strong shooting second half to take the matchup at the Steinberg Center.

LIU had four scorers in double figures in the game, sophomore Jeydah Johnson led the way with 19 points. Freshman Ryan Weise added 13 points and sophomore Tia Montagne and freshman Brandy Thomas recorded 12 points each. Thomas and sophomore Ella Vaatanen recorded a team-high six rebounds each.  St. Francis Brooklyn's Jade Johnson was named Most Valuable Player of the Battle of Brooklyn for the second straight year with a game-high 33 points.

The rivalry matchup started out with both teams trading early baskets before a layup from Montagne helped start a 9-2 LIU run for a 11-6 advantage into the first media timeout at 4:57 in the first. St. Francis would bring the Blackbirds lead down to three at 3:49 in the period but a five-point spurt capped by a three from Weise gave LIU the 18-10 favor. LIU closed out the quarter on a five point run on a three from Johnson and layup from Weise for a 23-15 lead.

St. Francis opened the second quarter with a 10-2 start led by back-to-back threes from Battle of Brooklyn MVP Jade Johnson to tie things up at 25-25. The Blackbirds would regain the lead with a 7-2 stretch paced by four points from Thomas for a 34-29 advantage with 2:50 to go in the half. The Terriers would fight back to tie the game as a six-point swing gave the visitors a 39-36 lead at the half.
LIU was quick to score out of the half as freshman Tiya Misir and Johnson recorded baskets on back-to-back possessions to retain the lead at 40-39. The Terriers responded with an 8-2 run over the next three minutes to take a 50-42 advantage into the media timeout. That lead would stay for St. Francis as the quarter wore on but LIU cut the deficit to 60-50 in the final minute on a three from Weise.

The Blackbirds would make it an eight-point game on another three from Weise in the opening minute of the final period. St. Francis would pull ahead on an eight point run over the next 2:45 to jump ahead 69-53, forcing an LIU timeout. The Terriers would continue to lead as the quarter went on, but the Blackbirds showed late life with a six-point run capped by back to back baskets from Johnson for a 73-65 Saint Francis lead with 2:29 to go. The game would close on a 6-2 favor for St. Francis to claim the matchup 79-67.

NOTES FROM THE NEST

• The Battle of Brooklyn matchup is now gridlocked with a tie at 13-13 in the series history.
• LIU finished with four scorers in double figures for the second time this season.
• The Blackbirds shot a season-best 50% (26-52) from the floor in the game.
• Johnson finished with a team-high 19 points, leading the team in scoring for the eighth time this season.
• Montagne and Thomas recorded double figures for the second straight game.
• LIU was outrebounded 38-26 by the Terriers.

UP NEXT
The Blackbirds hit the road with a trip out to Mount St. Mary's on Saturday, January 26 for a 2:00 p.m. tip-off.