BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The Long Island University women's basketball team fell to second-place Mount St. Mary's, 77-57 on Monday night at the Steinberg Wellness Center.

LIU finished with three scorers in double figures against the Mountaineers. Sophomore Brandy Thomas recorded a team-high 16 points to go with seven rebounds and a game-high four steals. Junior Jeydah Johnson registered 13 points for the Sharks and sophomore Kiara Bell contributed 10 points.

GAME BREAKDOWN
Both teams came firing to start the game, going basket for basket in the first four minutes of play. Mount made the first run of the game with a 6-2 stretch to take a 15-10 lead at 5:31 mark in the quarter. The Sharks countered with a 10-4 stretch shortly after led by four points from junior Mia Perkins to take the lead, 21-20 with 2:14 to go in the quarter. Mount closed out the quarter with back-to-back baskets to take a 23-20 lead.

Momentum carried over for the Mountaineers to begin the second quarter with a 7-4 run to start the frame. LIU responded with a 5-2 stretch there after with a basket from Johnson making it a three point game, 32-29 with 2:53 to go in the first half. Mount used a 7-0 closing stretch to take a 39-29 lead at the half.

The opening two and a half minutes saw both teams trade a pair of baskets, with Bell and Thomas scoring for the Sharks down low. Mount then used a 7-0 stretch to take a 50-33 lead at the 5:14 mark. The Mountaineers would continue to keep pace for the remainder of the quarter, outscoring LIU 13-9 in the final five minutes of the period for 63-42 advantage.

LIU outscored Mount 15-14 in the final quarter but the strong third quarter by the Mountaineers, shooting 71.4% from the field led way for a 77-57 win.

SHARK BITES

• Thomas recorded her seventh straight game scoring double-figures. She tallied 13 of her team-high 16 points in the second half.
• Johnson scored in double-digits for the 14th time this season. She went 3-for-5 from downtown against the Mountaineeers.
• Bell also posted her 14th game in double-figures, finishing the day with 10 points.
• Perkins recorded a team-high nine boards.
• Sophomore Ryan Weise led LIU with four assists.
• Mount St. Mary's controlled the battle on the glass out rebounding LIU, 40-28.

UP NEXT
The Sharks take on local rival St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday, February 15 at the Steinberg Wellness Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in an opening game of a doubleheader.