Bridgeport Outlasts Women's Basketball in Overtime, 82-77

1/27/2016 8:25:00 PM

Box Score

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Jan. 27, 2016) - On Wednesday, the LIU Post women's basketball team dropped an 82-77 overtime decision to University of Bridgeport in East Coast Conference action at Hubble Gymnasium in Bridgeport.

The loss moves the Pioneers to 2-17 overall and 2-9 in ECC play, while the Purple Knights improve to 6-11 and 4-5 in league action.

LIU Post found itself leading by as many as nine points in the opening 10 minutes and took a 21-15 lead into the first break. Senior forward Nyasia Davis (Rahway, N.J.) scored eight first-quarter points. Senior guard Jalyn Brown (Riverhead, N.Y.) added five points, as well.

In the second quarter, the Pioneers maintained their lead and after Davis converted a three-point play late in the quarter, the green and gold brought a 31-26 lead into halftime. Davis finished with 12 points and seven rebounds in the first half. Brown contributed eight points, while junior forward Melsha Messam (St. Albans, N.Y.) chipped in five.

Throughout the third quarter, the visitors held onto the lead and eventually went up by as many as 12 points (51-39) with under a minute to go. The Purple Knights hit a three with 21 second left to cut into the lead, but the Pioneers led 53-45 heading into the fourth.

In the final 10 minutes of regulation, Bridgeport came back and eventually tied the game at 66-all with just over two minutes to go. After the Purple Knights took a 68-66 lead, senior guard Khea Gibbs (Norwalk, Conn.) hit two free throws with 42 seconds left to send the game into overtime. 

In the extra session, the two teams traded leads, until the Purple Knights took a 77-76 advantage with 1:35 on the clock. From there, Bridgeport outscored the Pioneers 5-1 to hang on for the 82-77 win.

Davis finished with a team-high 21 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Gibbs poured in 19 points in 28 minutes off the bench. Messam and Brown had 13 and 11 points, respectively. Messam also brought down nine boards.

Head Coach Deirdre Moore and the Pioneers are back in action on Saturday (Jan. 30), when they head to Oakdale, N.Y. to face Dowling College in an ECC battle. The opening tip is slated for 1:30 p.m.