BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The Long Island University women's basketball team squared off with the Northeast Conference's newest member, Merrimack for the second straight game. After the Sharks earned a 68-60 win last week, the Warriors came away with the 66-63 win in the rematch at the Steinberg Wellness Center on Saturday.

LIU received double-digit scoring from four different players against the Warriors. Sophomore Brandy Thomas recorded a team-high 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. Sophomore Ryan Weise recorded 11 points and dished out five assists.

Sophomore Kiara Bell finished just shy of a double-double as she finished with 10 points and nine boards. Junior Paulani Tarawa recorded a season-high 10 points.

GAME BREAKDOWN

Saturday's tilt was a back-and-forth battle as the game saw 19 lead changes and was tied up 13 times in the 40 minutes of play.

LIU opened the game in Brooklyn with back to back baskets from Thomas and Bell. Merrimack was there to answer with back-to-back baskets for their own to tie the game up 4-4 at the 7:11 mark. It was back and forth from there as the Warriors held a 12-10 advantage at the 3:09 to go in the quarter. LIU used a 6-0 run paced by four points from junior Mia Perkins to take a 16-12 lead with 1:38 to go. Merrimack closed the quarter with back-to-back baskets to tie the score up 16-16 into the second quarter.

The Warriors started the quarter with a 5-3 advantage to take a 21-19 lead. LIU then embarked on a 10-2 stretch over a three minute span with Weise and junior Jeydah Johnson leading the way with three points each for 26-22 advantage with 4:40 to go in the half. Merrimack was quick to answer with a five-point spurt in the next 30 seconds to take back the lead, 27-26. The Sharks outscored the Warriors 4-2 in the final stretch of the quarter as four points from Tarawa gave LIU the 30-29 lead at the half.

Both teams traded baskets to begin the second half with Merrimack holding a 7-6 edge to tie the game up at 36 at the 7:33 mark. The lead would go back-and-forth throughout the third quarter. LIU looked to create a little separation late with a 5-2 stretch paced by three points from Johnson to take a 48-46 lead with 47 seconds to go. Merrimack grabbed the last basket tie the game into the final quarter.

Merrimack used a 7-3 start in the fourth to take a 55-51 lead at the 7:34 mark. LIU cut it to a two-point game on a layup from Bell shortly after. The Warriors then used a 7-2 run over the next five minutes to build a 62-55 lead with 1:03 to go as LIU struggled to make a basket from the floor. LIU looked to fight back using back-to-back triples by Weise to cut the deficit to one, 62-61 with 29 seconds to go. Merrimack pushed the lead back to three on a pair of made free throws for seconds later. The Sharks looked to tie it up late on free throws by Weise as she converted two of three from the line to bring the score to 64-63 with eight seconds to go. LIU got the rebound and called timeout with five seconds to go. Merrimack made a steal on the inbounds attempt and drained the final two free throws to take a 66-63 victory.

SHARK BITES

• Thomas recorded her  with sixth double-double of the season and second in NEC play, finishing with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
• Tarawa tallied a season-high 10 points and tied her season-high with six boards.
• Johnson tied her career-high with five assists against the Warriors, she also added five boards and nine points.
• The Sharks converted 12-of-14 from the free throw line.
• LIU controlled the battle on the glass, out rebounding Merrimack, 48-41.

UP NEXT

The Sharks continue their homestand at the Steinberg Wellness Center on Monday, February 10 with a 7:00 p.m. tip-off against Mount St. Mary's.