BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The Long Island University women's basketball team battled over the first three quarters, but the Sharks could not overcome a 9-2 stretch by Vermont in the final quarter, falling to the Catamounts, 73-62 at the Steinberg Wellness Center.

LIU had three scorers finish in double figures against the Catamounts. Sophomore Ryan Weise finished with a career-high 21 points and dished out a career-high seven assists. Sophomore Brandy Thomas registered 17 points and junior Jeydah Johnson added 12 points. Junior Mia Perkins recorded a career-high 14 rebounds for the Sharks.

GAME BREAKDOWN

Vermont stormed out of the gate with with a 6-0 before LIU got on the scoreboard courtesy of a jumper from Johnson at 7:23 in the opening quarter. Both teams continued to trade buckets from there with the Catamounts holding a 12-6 just half the halfway point in the quarter. A 9-2 stretch by LIU followed with a layup from sophomore Kiara Bell giving the Sharks a 15-14 lead at the 1:45 mark. Vermont regained the lead in the final minute of the first quarter with a 5-2 closing stretch for the 19-17 lead.

After a basket from the Catamounts opened the scoring in the second quarter, LIU used an 8-0 stretch led by three-pointers from Thomas and Weise to take a 25-22 lead at the 7:20 mark. The Sharks continued to hold the slight lead as the quarter wore on before Vermont went on a 5-0 stretch to regain the lead 31-29 with 3:06 to go. Weise answered with a layup shortly after to knot things up 31-31 but the Catamounts got the last bucket of the quarter to take a 33-31 lead to the break.

LIU used a 7-2 start out of the half, led by five points from Thomas to take a 38-35 lead with 5:59 to go in the third quarter. Vermont made its first run of the second half right after to shift momentum, using a 9-0 stretch to take a 44-38 lead at the 3:01 mark. Thomas kept the Sharks right there with back-to-back layups to cut the deficit to two, 44-42 with 1:02 to go. The Catamounts grabbed the final basket of the third period to take a 46-42 lead into the fourth quarter.

The back-and-forth play continued to start the fourth quarter as both teams traded baskets to start. Vermont started to heat up offensively, going 4-for-4 field on the decisive 9-2 spurt to gain control of the contest with a 61-50 lead with 5:54 to go in the quarter. LIU continued to fight, cutting the deficit down to six, 68-62 with 1:08 to go on Weise's fifth triple of the game. The Catamounts converted at the charity stripe in the final minute to earn the win, 73-62.

SHARK BITES

• Weise recorded a career-high 21 points on eight made field goals, including five three-pointers for LIU. She registered a career-high seven assists and added five rebounds along with four steals in the all-around effort.
• Thomas netted 12 of her 17 points in the second half for the Sharks. She also grabbed seven boards and picked up four assists.
• Johnson finished in double figures for the sixth time this season with 12 points on the day.
• Perkins posted double-digit rebounds for the third time this season with a career-high 14 boards.
• Bell recorded three blocks for LIU.
• The Sharks won the battle on the glass for the seventh time this year, out-rebounding Vermont, 48-37.

UP NEXT
The Sharks close out non-conference play and the 2019 calendar on Saturday, December 28 against North Carolina Central University. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the men's team at the Steinberg Wellness Center.