BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team held off the late charge from Sacred Heart to earn a 69-64 win at the Barclays Center on Monday afternoon.

The Blackbirds shot a season-high 58.8% from downtown in victory, connecting on 10 three-pointers for the second straight game. Sophomore Jeydah Johnson led LIU with a team-high 20 points to go along with seven rebounds. Freshman Brandy Thomas registered her 11^th double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds and freshman Ryan Weise contributed 14 points.

LIU would get the first lead of the contest on a 7-3 stretch after the opening free throw from the Pioneers behind four points from Thomas and a three from Weise to jump ahead 7-4 with 5:24 to go in the opening period. Sacred Heart responded out the media timeout with a 10-2 stretch to jump ahead 17-11. The Blackbirds would net a pair of free throws from Johnson to take a four-point deficit into the quarter break.

Momentum continued with the Blackbirds into the second quarter with a nine point run paced capped by a corner three from Weise to jump ahead 22-17 with 6:08 to go. The Pioneers would work back to tie the game twice as both teams continued to trade baskets. A three pointer from sophomore Ella Vaatanen opened a huge 11-3 run for LIU with a three pointer as the team went into the half ahead 36-28.

LIU continued to connect from downtown to start the second with sophomore Tia Montagne opening the quarter with a spot up three and Weise connecting on her fourth triple of the game for the largest lead of the contest at 42-30 with 8:03 to go in the period. Sacred Heart clamped down defensively forcing nine LIU turnovers on a 14-6 stretch to cut the deficit to 48-44 into the final period.

The Pioneers continued to claw back using a 5-1 start to the fourth quarter to knot the game up at 49-49 with 8:09 to go in the quarter. Back and forth action would ensue over next four minutes taking a 57-57 deadlock into the home stretch. LIU regained the lead for good on a layup from Vaatanen with 3:24 to go to start a four-point swing for the slight lead. SHU continued to fight working the Blackbirds lead to within two with a minute remaining but LIU hit six free throws down the stretch to come away with the 69-64 win.

NOTES FROM NEST

• LIU has won its annual game at the Barclays Center for the second straight season.
• The Blackbirds win over SHU was the first since January 12, 2015; snapping an eight-game skid against its NEC foe.
• Thomas recorded her 11^th double-double of the season with her 16-point, 13-rebound performance.
• Johnson recorded her fifth 20-point performance of the season, shooting 50% from the floor and 4-7 from three.
• Weise continued her strong play with her fifth straight game in double figures.
• LIU finished the day with 17 assists with five players dishing out three or more dimes. Montagne led the way with four assists.
• The Blackbirds controlled the glass, outrebounding Sacred Heart 46-29 for the largest rebounding margin of the season (+17). LIU had five players grab six or more rebounds on the day.

UP NEXT

The Blackbirds hit the road to take on the NEC's Pennsylvania contingent this coming weekend. LIU takes on Saint Francis U first on Saturday, February 23 for a 4:00 p.m. tip-off in part of a doubleheader with the men's team.