BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The LIU women's basketball team fell to local rival St. Francis Brooklyn Friday, in the annual Battle of Brooklyn game, 82-73. Senior Shyla Sanford and freshman Emaia O'Brien led the Sharks with 19 points each, as LIU moves to 5-16 on the season, and 5-8 in the Northeast Conference.
 
SHARK BITES

• LIU opened the game on a 10-5 run in the first four minutes, but the Terriers would battle back to tie it up. The game would stay close, with six ties and five lead changes.
• SFBK led 19-16 after the first period, and extended that lead to 25-16 at the 8:06 mark in the second. A three from O'Brien and two more from Sanford would help close the gap to five points with a minute left in the half, but the Terriers led, 43-36 at the break.
• The Sharks went 5-for-8 from three-point range in the third period, using that sharp-shooting to outscore the home team, 23-19, including a three from Sanford with 1:24 in the period that gave LIU a 59-57 lead.
• SFBK kept a slight edge in the fourth, but the Sharks kept threatening. A jumper by Brandy Thomas with 3:15 to play cut the lead to 73-71, and two free throws for O'Brien tied it up, 73-73 with 1:41 on the clock. But over the final 77 seconds, the Terriers would outscore LIU, 9-0, clinching the 82-73 win.
• Shyla Sanford led LIU with 19 points, including five three-pointers.
• Freshman Emaia O'Brien also had 19 points, going 6-for-11 from the field.
• Senior Brandy Thomas added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the double double, along with a team-high four assists and three steals.
• Up next, the Sharks host Saint Francis U., Thursday, February 20 at 7 p.m. for the annual Think Pink game.