Box Score

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team was defeated by LIU Brooklyn, 70-62, at Stratis Arena on Monday in a Northeast Conference matinee on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. With the victory, the Blackbirds improve to 4-13 (1-5 NEC) on the season, while the Knights fall to 8-9 (3-3 NEC) overall.

In a contest featuring four ties and five lead changes, the Knights started hot, as sophomore Miah Register (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Catholic) nailed three three-pointers over the first eight minutes to help FDU take a 21-10 lead with 11:13 to go before halftime.

After junior Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic)'s jumper kept the lead at double-digits (25-15) with 9:42 remaining in the opening half, LIU answered with a 17-4 spurt to take a 32-29 lead with 3:41 to go before halftime.

Sophomore Tiffany Grant (Odenton, Md./Arundel) knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game at 32, but the Blackbirds would go into halftime leading 35-34.

Both sides shot at least 40 percent over the first 20 minutes. The Knights connected on 41.9 percent (13-of-31) of field goals, including 5-of-7 from behind the arc, while LIU shot 40 percent (14-of-35) from the field and outrebounded FDU, 27-17, and scored 10 points off seven Knights' miscues.

FDU started the second half on an 11-2 run, as sophomore Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) scored eight points to give the Knights a 45-37 lead with 15:54 remaining in the contest.

Still leading by eight at 47-39, the Blackbirds responded with a 15-1 spurt to go up six, 54-48, with 10:32 left in the game.

Senior Torrie Childs (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Central) made a nice one-handed shot on a spin move, and redshirt junior Danielle Pankey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) made two free throws to cut the lead to 54-52 with a little under eight minutes remaining, but it was the closest the Knights would get.

LIU extended the lead out to seven on two occasions before Register's fourth three-pointer of the game cut the lead to 61-57 with 2:33 to go.

However, the Blackbirds eventually stretched the lead out to nine before nailing 5-of-6 free throws over the final minute to clinch the 70-62 victory over FDU.

The Knights struggled from the field in the second half, shooting only 30 percent (9-of-30), while LIU shot 45.8 percent (11-of-24). The visitors also made 12-of-17 free throws over the final 20 minutes.

Despite shooting a season-high 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from three-point range, FDU went to the free throw line 15 times and made 10, while finishing the game shooting 36.1 percent (22-of-61) from the field.

The Blackbirds shot 42.4 percent (25-of-59) from the floor and made 2-of-10 three pointers, while knocking down 18-of-28 free throws (64.3 percent). LIU also outrebounded the Knights, 45-34, and scored 15 points off 15 FDU turnovers. The Knights scored only nine points off 16 LIU turnovers.

“LIU came determined and made all the hustle plays,” Head Coach Peter Cinella said. “We need to do a better job of rebounding and a much better job of shot selection.”

Register led FDU with a career-high 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point range, while picking up a game-high three steals. Pankey added 14 points, and Livermore picked up her 14th double-double of the season with 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with a game-high two blocks and two steals.

Tamika Guz scored 18 points to lead the Blackbirds. Krystal Wells added 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Cleandra Roberts came off the bench to record a double-double with 12 points, a team-best 11 rebounds and three steals. Letava Whippy chipped in 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals for LIU.

The Knights will return to Northeast Conference play on Saturday, Jan. 26 when they travel to Hamden, Conn. to take on first-place Quinnipiac. Tipoff for the nationally-televised contest is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.