BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The LIU Brooklyn women's basketball team was edged by rival Wagner College, 66-62 in the annual Play 4 Kay game on Saturday afternoon.
LIU finished with four scorers in double figures for the second straight game. Freshman
Brandy Thomas finished with 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season. Sophomore
Jeydah Johnson added 13 points to go along with eight rebounds. Freshman
Tiya Misir added a career-high 12 points and classmate
Ryan Weise tallied 10 points.
Facing off for the second straight game both teams traded baskets early the quarter. Wagner held the slight lead before LIU went on a 7-1 swing capped by a three from sophomore
Tia Montagne to take an 11-9 lead with 2:50 to go in the quarter. Back-to-back threes gave the visiting team a 15-11 lead into the quarter break.
Momentum continued for Wagner for most of the second quarter as they built up a 13 point lead at 31-18 with 3:47 to go. The Blackbirds responded shortly after as Johnson, Misir and Weise hit three-straight threes to cut the deficit to four at 31-27 as the Seahawks called a timeout with 1:59 to go in the quarter. Each team would add a free throw to end the quarter giving Wagner the slight 32-28 lead into the half.
LIU continued to battle back as the third period began, cashing in on the Seahawks foul trouble at the free throw line with a five-point run to tie the game up at 36-36 with 5:25 to go. Wagner used its full court press shortly after causing three LIU turnovers on a seven-point swing in a minute span to regain the lead back. The Blackbirds would keep pace the remainder of the quarter as Thomas tallied seven points over the remaining two and a half minutes for a six-point Seahawks lead at 49-43 as the game headed to the final period.
The visiting team used an 8-4 start to the final period to stretch its lead to ten at 57-47 with 6:46 to go. LIU connected on back-to-back threes from Weise and Misir shortly after to cut the deficit down to four. Wagner continued to hold a slight lead as the period wore on before the Blackbirds took a stab at one final run with a five-point swing capped by a layup from Misir to make it a 63-60 ballgame with 1:05 to go. The Seahawks used a three-pointer to extend the lead back to six with 34 seconds remaining. The Blackbirds attempted to claw back after a pair of free throws shortly after but the Wagner defense held them at bay to take the matchup.
NOTES FROM THE NEST
- LIU controlled the glass grabbing a season-high 50 rebounds on the year.
- The Blackbirds finished with four scorers in double figures for the fourth time this season.
- Thomas recorded her third straight double-digit scoring effort and her team leading 15th game in double figures.
- Her double-double was the second in NEC play and ninth on the year.
- Misir's 12 points and two made three pointers were both new career bests.
- Montagne and sophomore Ella Vaatanen finished with a career-high seven rebounds each.
UP NEXT
LIU closes out the NEC weekend with a matchup against Mount St. Mary's on Monday, February 11 at 7:00 p.m.