BROOKLYN, N.Y. – After a long delay, the LIU women's basketball team played its first game of the 2020-21 season in the Steinberg Wellness Center Tuesday night. While the game got off to a promising start for the Sharks, the visiting Pioneers would rally in the second half to take control of the game, and Sacred Heart beat LIU, 72-64.
 
SHARK BITES

• LIU got off to a hot start with a three from junior Ryan Weise, and at one point, had a 10-2 lead on SHU.
• The Sharks led at the half, 36-30, but would struggle with shooting in the second half.
• Sacred Heart took the lead for the first time in the game midway through the third quarter, 43-41. They would widen the lead to nine points over the final minutes of the period, heading into the fourth with a 52-49 advantage.
• From there, the visiting team controlled the tempo, and took the win, scoring 20 of their points off of fast breaks.
• The Sharks also had five players score in double digits in the loss, which is the first time that has happened under head coach Rene Haynes.
• LIU was led in scoring by junior Brandy Thomas, who had 14 points.
• Junior Kiara Bell was a standout for the Sharks with a double double, the fifth of her career. Bell had 12 points and grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds for LIU.
• Junior point guard Ryan Weise had 13 points and four assists, while redshirt sophomore Camille Gray had 11 points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals. Junior Shyla Sanford chipped in 10 points and a game-high three steals, along with two assists.
• Sonia Smith led Sacred Heart in scoring with 16 points, along with seven assists.
• Up next, the two teams face off in a rematch, Wednesday, December 16 at 4 p.m.