BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The Long Island University women's basketball team fell to Cleveland State ,79-49 on Saturday evening at the Steinberg Wellness Center. Junior Mia Perkins led LIU, Sharks with a season-high 11 points and sophomore Brandy Thomas finished with a game-high 12 rebounds.

GAME BREAKDOWN

The Vikings jumped out to an early lead, going up 9-0 on the Sharks. LIU used a five-point run with baskets by juniors Jeydah Johnson and Ella Vaatanen to cut the deficit to four at 9-5 with 3:35 to go in the first. Cleveland State used a 8-3 closing stretch to command the lead after the first quarter, 17-8.

Cleveland State continued to click on the offensive end in the second quarter, shooting 52.9% from the floor to outscore the Sharks 29-8 for the 46-16 lead at the break. The visiting Vikings sustained that lead over through the rest of the game.

LIU improved offensively as the second half progressed, shooting 44% from the field in the fourth quarter. The Sharks were able to put together a 14-0 run during a four minute stretch in the fourth, as Perkins and Thomas tallied five points each during that run. LIU could not cut into the deficit in the quarter with Cleveland State maintaining the lead for the victory.

SHARK BITES

• LIU edged out the Vikings on the glass, 42-41.
• Perkins led the Sharks in scoring with a season-high 11 points. She also added four boards, two steals and a block in 22 minutes of action.
• Thomas added a game-high 12 boards and also tallied a team-high three assists and three steals.
• Sophomore Kiara Bell contributed seven points and six boards for the Sharks. Vaatanen recorded a season-high six points and added a pair of assists.

UP NEXT

The Sharks travel to Pennsylvania on Wednesday, November 20  Lafayette on Wednesday, November 20 for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off at the Kirby Sports Center.