6-4
LIU Brooklyn
3-6
LIU Brooklyn Edges Bulls, Snaps UB's Four Game Winning Streak
12/21/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BROOKLYN, NY – The University at Buffalo, State University of New York women's basketball team suffered a 79-73 non-conference setback to LIU Brooklyn Sunday afternoon at the Steinberg Wellness Center.
In a game riddled with turnovers, the Blackbirds (3-6) used 22 second-half free throws to end UB's (6-4) four game winning streak.
The contest was knotted on five occasions with the lead changing nine times. The Bulls committed a season-high 34 turnovers, 23 of which came in the first half, though the Blackbirds made 30 of their own resulting in 30 UB points.
Trailing 14-9 in the first, sophomore Joanna Smith hit a pair of free throws and senior Christa Baccas and junior Mackenzie Loesing capitalized on Smith assists to take a 15-14 edge at 9:51. The Blackbirds answered with an 11-0 streak, during which UB made five turnovers. Threes by sophomores Alexus Malone and Camera Miley and Loesing helped UB surge to deadlock the game at 28-all. LIU took a 31-30 advantage into the locker room at intermission.
The Bulls took control of the second half early. The Blackbirds were forced to burn a timeout at 18:17 after a Loesing and-one play capped a 7-0 UB run. LIU awoke to inch back and tie the game at 45 at the 13-minute mark. The host squad went ahead for good at 7:54 tipping off a 14-2 stretch that secured the Blackbirds a comfortable lead. They scored nine consecutive free throws and drained a three for their largest lead of the game, 71-60, at 4:56. The Bulls snuck within five at 1:21, but LIU hit 4-of-6 from the line in the waning seconds to seal the victory.
UB held a 38-35 advantage on the boards and placed four in double digits for the first time since the Dec. 4 victory at Cornell. Loesing scored a game-high 17 and Miley had a career-high 16. Senior Kristen Sharkey added 12 and sophomore Alexus Malone 10. The duo shared a game-high eight rebounds. Sharkey and Miley made four steals each – a career-high for Miley. Smith dished out four assists and Sharkey had a trio of blocks to lead the Bulls.
LIU scored five in double figures with Sophie Bhasin leading the way with 14. Shanovia Dove added 13 and a game-best six steals.
UB shot 45.2 percent for the game, while LIU made good on 42.6 percent of its attempts. For the second straight game, UB was 11-for-20 at the charity stripe. The Blackbirds hit 26-of-37.
The Blackbirds, who picked up their third straight victory, improve to 2-1 all-time against the Bulls. They won the inaugural 1975-76 meeting before UB evened the series with a win in 2001-02.
The Bulls wrap up non-conference play on Monday, Dec. 29 at cross-town Big 4 rival Canisius before tipping off Mid-American Conference action in January.
