BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – A late bucket by the University of the District of Columbia helped cap off a fourth-quarter comeback that downed the LIU Post women's basketball team in East Coast Conference play, 64-62 on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019.
 
The Pioneers sported pink accessories, socks, and warmups as part of the annual #ThinkPink game to raise awareness for breast cancer research during the contest against the Firebirds.
 
Graduate student Sasha Patterson netted a team-high 17 points and hauled in 17 rebounds for LIU Post, while redshirt-junior Taylah Hudson and senior Shannon Doyle chipped in 14 and 12 points, respectively. Redshirt-junior Robyn Francis posted five blocks on the evening and junior Dominique Williams added three blocks for the Green and Gold.
 
LIU Post outrebounded the District of Columbia, 48-41, and also held the Firebirds to just 30-percent shooting from the field during the contest. Natasha Roy netted a game-high 27 points for the District of Columbia, finishing 7-of-16 from the floor and 9-of-11 at the free-throw line. The Green and Gold dominated in the paint, outscoring the Firebirds from close range, 38-16, but the visiting squad knocked down 7-of-16 three-point attempts, while LIU Post converted just 3-of-22 attempts.
 
Leading 34-22 at the half, LIU Post saw its lead dwindle to single digits at the end of the third quarter as the Firebirds netted 21 points during the third period. The Pioneers opened the final quarter with consecutive layups by Hudson and Doyle, but an 11-2 burst by the Firebirds made it a three-point game (57-54) midway through the period.
 
On the ensuing possession, Doyle knocked down a three-pointer from the right wing to make it a two-possession game (60-54) before Roy responded with a triple of her own on the next District of Columbia possession. Junior Mikaiya Moore netted two free throws with 3:30 remaining for LIU Post, but second and third chance opportunities for the Firebirds allowed Roy to knock down a three-point basket with 2:45 remaining to cut the deficit to two points (62-60) with 2:45 to play. After a stop on the defensive end, Tyra Coombs added two free throws on the next possession to level the scoring with 2:01 left.
 
The two squads combined to go 0-for-6 before Coombs took a dish from Roy on the left block and finished a layup off the glass with 3.5 seconds remaining to give the Firebirds a two-point lead, their first lead of the contest. After a timeout by head coach Deirdre Moore, the Pioneers advanced the inbound to mid court and on the ensuing possession, Patterson could not spin a driving layup attempt off the right side of the backboard and the Firebirds held on for the season sweep of the Pioneers.
 
LIU Post returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 9 when they make the trip to Sparkill, N.Y. to take on Saint Thomas Aquinas College at 1:00 p.m.