NEW BRITAIN, Conn.— The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team saw its second half comeback bid fall just short Monday night as CCSU edged out the 63-57 win over the Blackbirds at Detrick Gymnasium.
LIU finished with three scorers in double figures on the night. Sophomore
Jeydah Johnson led the way for the Blackbirds with 16 points. Freshman
Brandy Thomas finished with 15 points and tied for team-high with eight rebounds. Sophomore
Tia Montagne added 12 points for LIU.
The opening quarter saw both teams trading baskets early, with LIU getting quick points from Thomas and Montage in the opening minutes. The home team would take the momentum for the remainder of the quarter forcing five Blackbird turnovers on a 16-6 closing run to take a 21-11 lead into the quarter break.
CCSU continued to hold the lead for the start of the second frame keeping the lead at 10. The Blackbirds remained poised, embarking on a 11-4 run over the next six minutes to cut the CCSU lead to 28-24 with 2:00 to go. Thomas led the Blackbirds with seven points during that run. The Blue Devils would get one last bucket to take a 30-24 advantage at the half.
The home team held the slight edge out of the half before LIU went on a five-point swing on a layup from Montagne and three-pointer from Weise to cut the score to 34-31 with 7:56 to go. CCSU held the tight advantage as the quarter went on but the Blackbirds cut the lead to two at 41-39 on baskets from Montagne and sophomore
Ella Vaatanen with 2:47 to go in the quarter. It was a 7-2 closing stretch from the Blue Devils to push their lead to seven at 48-41 heading to the final quarter.
Back-and-forth play would ensue as the final period began as both teams continued to battle. The Blackbirds got momentum going shortly after as a layup from Johnson sparked a 7-1 run over the next three minutes. A jumper at the right elbow from Thomas capped that run to tie the game at 53-53 with 4:06 to go. The Blue Devils regained the lead on a pair of free throws with 1:42 remaining in regulation. LIU would stay within two on a jumper from Vaatanen with 41 seconds remaining but CCSU converted at the line, hitting six-of-seven free throw attempts to earn the 63-57 win.
NOTES FROM THE NEST
- Johnson finished in double figures for the seventh time in NEC play with her team leading 16 points. She has finished in double-digits in four straight contests.
- Montagne and Thomas have finished in double figures in three of the last four games. Weise finished with a career-high eight rebounds and senior Destoni Willock also added a career-high seven boards.
- LIU held the edge on the rebounding battle, with a 39-37 favor.
- The loss snaps a three-game win streak for the Blackbirds over the Blue Devils.
UP NEXT
The Blackbirds open February on the road at Wagner on Saturday, February 2 for a 1:00 p.m. start.