LORETTO, Pa. – The LIU women's basketball team saw a large lead evaporate late in the game Thursday night at Saint Francis U. The Sharks led by 18 points at one point in the second quarter, but late foul issues for LIU gave the Red Flash the 76-72 win.
 
SHARK BITES

• Late in the first quarter, threes from Brandy Thomas and Aislinn Flynn gave the Sharks a 21-14 lead over the Red Flash.
• In the second quarter, LIU outscored SFU in large part because of a 19-8 run that spanned most of the period. The Sharks went 7-for-12 from the field in that span, led by Kiara Bell and Kennedy Taylor. LIU led, 40-24 at the halftime break.
• LIU continued to lead, leading after the third quarter, 55-45, and would continue to lead well into the fourth quarter. It was in the final five and a half minutes that the home team made its push, thanks in part to numerous foul calls on LIU.
• Over the last five minutes, SFU would outscore LIU, 19-8, almost entire at the free throw line. The Red Flash went 16-for-16 at the line, scoring just one field goal in that span. Those calls made the difference in the game, as SFU took the win, 76-72.
• Brandy Thomas led LIU with 19 points (6-for-9 from the field), along with three rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
• Kiara Bell and Kennedy Taylor each added 10 points in the loss, while Bell also chipped in six rebounds, and Taylor had a team high four assists.
• Senior Mia Perkins added eight points, part of a larger team effort, as nine of the eleven Sharks players who went in the game scored points.
• Up next, LIU gets another shot at Saint Francis, as the two teams will play Friday at 4 p.m.