BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Following a closely contested first half, the Long Island University women's basketball team was unable to hold on to its halftime lead and fell, 68-63, to Central Connecticut State University in the final game of the regular season on Wednesday night at the Steinberg Wellness Center. 

The first half of the game was a back-and-forth affair, as neither side led by more than three points for the first 19 minutes. LIU held a 15-14 advantage at the end of the first quarter; midway through the second quarter, the lead changed 10 times. 

With under a minute remaining in the first half, trailing CCSU 32-31, freshman guard Brianna Mead connected on a 3-pointer off an assist from junior guard Sirviva Legions for 34-32 lead late in the second quarter. The Sharks extended the lead on a putback by sophomore guard Janessa Williams on their next possession, taking a 36-32 lead into the halftime locker room. 

LIU extended its lead to 40-33 early in the third quarter, but a prolonged scoring run by the Blue Devils allowed CCSU to retake the lead just over three minutes into the second half. However, a 3-pointer by senior Kaiden Glenn opened the LIU offense, as both teams later ended the third frame tied at 47. 

The Sharks took a 54-51 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by Williams, though CCSU rallied to tie the game shortly after. Each team traded punches down the stretch of the game before the Blue Devils held a 68-63 lead at the final buzzer. 

Legions and Williams tied to lead the Sharks with 18 points apiece, followed by 13 points from Mead who finished the game with a double-double after collecting 10 rebounds. 

LIU will travel to No. 1 seed Fairleigh Dickinson University in the first round of the Northeast Conference Tournament on Monday.