BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The Long Island University women's basketball team held off a second half charge by Fairleigh Dickinson to earn a 68-63 win on Saturday afternoon at the Steinberg Wellness Center. The Sharks, led by double-digit scoring efforts from four players earned their first Northeast Conference victory of the season against the Knights.

Sophomore Brandy Thomas led LIU with 18 points to go along with seven rebounds. The Sharks also received 11-point efforts from juniors Jeydah Johnson and Mia Perkins along with sophomore Ryan Weise. Sophomore Kiara Bell finished just shy of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.

GAME BREAKDOWN

Both teams traded baskets to start the game, with the score knotted 7-7 after the first four minutes of play. LIU made its first run of the game with a five-point swing on a pair of free throws from Thomas and a triple from Perkins for a 12-7 lead at the 4:11 mark. The Knights cut the deficit to one, 12-11 on a pair of layups. The Sharks closed out the opening quarter on a 9-0 run on three pointers from Johnson, Perkins and Thomas for a 21-11 lead after the first quarter.

Fairleigh Dickinson outscored LIU 15-11 to begin the second quarter, eventually cutting the deficit to six at 32-26 with 4:13 to go in the quarter. The Sharks closed the quarter on a 4-2 favor with a pair of baskets from Thomas for a 38-28 lead at the half. LIU shot 55.6% from the field in the first half including 6-of-11 from downtown.

The Knights came out of the half with a 9-4 stretch to cut the LIU lead down to five, 42-37 at the the 4:17 mark. The Sharks later used a five-point run on a layup from Bell and a three-pointer from junior Paulani Tarawa to push the lead back to double figures 51-40 with 1:14 remaining in the quarter. Fairleigh Dickinson ended the quarter with a layup to bring the score to 51-43.

LIU continued to lead as the fourth quarter began, but the Knights went on their largest scoring run of the game with an 8-0 run to take back the lead 54-53 with 6:57 to go. The Sharks answered with a 5-0 run right after to take back the lead 58-54 at the 4:08 mark. LIU held the slight lead as the game approached the final minute. Fairleigh Dickinson looked to make one last push but the Sharks capitalized on seven made free throws in the final minute to take the 68-63 win.

SHARK BITES

• All seven players in LIU's rotation scored against the Knights. It is the second straight game that LIU posted four scorers in double figures.
• Thomas led LIU in scoring for the third straight game, finishing with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field. She has scored in double figures in 11 games this season.
• Johnson added her ninth double-digit scoring effort of the season for the Sharks.
• Perkins scored in double figures for the sixth time this season and recorded a career-high three three-pointers.
• Weise finished in double-figures for the second straight game for the Sharks.
• Bell added a team-high nine rebounds along with three blocks in the second half.
• Graduate student Drew Winter dished out a team and season-high four assists and added three steals defensively.
• LIU shot 42.6% from the field and 47.1% from long distance in the win.

UP NEXT
The Sharks welcome Central Connecticut State to the Steinberg Wellness Center on Monday, January 13 for a 7:00 p.m. tip-off.