ALBANY, N.Y. – The LIU Post women's basketball team saw its seven-game win streak come to an end in its first contest of 2019, falling to The College of Saint Rose, 63-59 inside the Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium on Wednesday, Jan. 2.
 
Despite an evenly matched contest through nearly three quarters, Saint Rose's Cameron Graupman drilled a three-point field goal from the left wing with just a few seconds remaining in the third period to give the Golden Knights a 46-42 lead with 10 minutes remaining. The three-pointer proved to be the midpoint of an 11-2 burst to give Saint Rose a 50-43 advantage with seven minutes remaining.
 
The run was stopped, however, when senior Shannon Doyle made a triple of her own from the left wing to cut the deficit to four points. Following another made jump shot by the Golden Knights, graduate student Sasha Patterson and Doyle put home consecutive layups to make it a two-point game (52-50). Saint Rose knocked down four free throws over its next two possessions to stretch the advantage back to six points, though the Pioneers were able to make it a one-possession game (59-57) once again late when junior Asia Turner found the bottom of the net with a long two-point jump shot. After Ashley Vanderwall went 1-for-2 at the free throw line, the Pioneers elected for a quick two-points as Patterson banked in a layup off the glass. Vanderwall made both free throw attempts on the ensuing Saint Rose possession, and although Doyle got a good look on the left wing to tie the score, her three-pointer ricocheted off the back iron and the Golden Knights secured the defensive rebound and made one free throw to put the game out of reach for good.
 
Patterson led LIU Post with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while Doyle and Turner finished in double figures with 13 and 11 tallies, respectively. Patterson posted her seventh double-double of the season with 12 rebounds.
 
The contest was marred with turnovers at times, with Saint Rose committing 20 turnovers to 15 by LIU Post. It was an even 40-40 split in rebounding, but free throw shooting proved to be the difference. The Pioneers finished with a 44-percent (8-18) effort at the charity stripe, while Saint Rose converted 67-percent (14-21) of its attempts.
 
It will be another tough task ahead for the Pioneers on Saturday, Jan. 5 when the Green and Gold travel to Waltham, Mass. to take on No. 11 Bentley University at 1:00 p.m. The Falcons ranked as high as No. 5 in Division II before dropping its first contest of the season on Dec. 28 to No. 9 University of the Sciences.