BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The Long Island University women's basketball team was edged out by Fairfield 53-51 on a last second shot by the Stags. LIU was led by 11 points from sophomore Brandy Thomas and seven boards and eight points from sophomore Kiara Bell. Fairfield finished with three scorers in double figures led by a game-high 17 points by Callie Cavanaugh.

GAME BREAKDOWN

Fairfield jumped out to an early 6-2 lead at the 6:31 mark in the opening quarter. A layup from Thomas shortly after sparked a seven-point run by the Sharks with a triple from junior Jeydah Johnson swinging the lead in LIU's favor, 9-6 just under the four minutes left in the period. Fairfield kept the deficit close as the Sharks took an 11-9 lead into the quarter break.

After both teams traded baskets to start the second quarter, LIU used a four-point stretch on a pair of buckets from Johnson to take a 17-11 lead just before the halfway point of the quarter. The Stags responded with a 7-2 run to make it a one point game, 19-18 at 3:39 in the second. A triple from sophomore Shyla Sanford stretched the lead back to four just six seconds later. It was a close battle from there on out with the Sharks handing on to a one-point lead with just under 30 seconds to go before the half. Sophomore Ryan Weise drained a three-pointer at the buzzer for a 27-23 LIU lead at the break.

Out of the half, the Sharks opened with a pair of layups from Sanford and Thomas to take an eight point lead, 31-23 with 8:47 remaining in the third. Fairfield stayed right on LIU's heels for the remainder of the period, eventually cutting the deficit to three at the 2:16 mark. The Sharks closed out the third on a 6-2 favor to take a 42-35 lead into the final period.

A basket by the Stags opened the scoring in the fourth but LIU was there to answer with baskets by Tiya Misir and Bell to take their largest lead of the game 46-37 with 7:52 to go. Fairfield looked to answer with a five point run to cut it to a four-point game at the 6:52 mark in the period. Bell and Misir picked up back-to-back baskets in a six second span to push the lead back to eight, 50-42 with 6:30 remaining. The Stags then went on a seven-point spurt with a layup in the paint by Sam Kramer, giving the visitors a 51-50 lead with 2:17 to go. A free throw from junior Mia Perkins knotted it up at 51-51 with 1:50 remaining. The Sharks had two more chances to regain the lead at the charity stripe but were unable to convert. Fairfield got the ball back with 21 seconds remaining, running a set play to Lou Lopez-Senechal, the 2018-19 MAAC Rookie of the Year. Lopez Senechal created separation on the setback jumper to give the Stags the lead with four tenths of a second remaining on the clock. LIU was unable to run a set play off the inbound attempt, giving the Stags a 53-51 win.

SHARK BITES

• Thomas finished in double figures for the third straight game for the Sharks.
• Bell added eight points a team-high seven rebounds and Johnson along with Sanford contributed seven points each.
• Junior Zhané Williams dished out a team-high three assists on the night.
• LIU won the rebounding battle against the Stags, 42-35 and grabbed 18 boards on the offensive end resulting in 26 second chance points.
• The Sharks were held to a season low 22.2% (4-18) from downtown by the Stags.

UP NEXT

The Sharks welcome Cleveland State to the Steinberg Wellness Center on Saturday, November 16. Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m.