FAIRFIELD, CONN. (March 1, 2014)--The Sacred Heart University women's basketball team earned a thrilling victory over visting Northeast Conference foe LIU Brooklyn, 46-44, Saturday afternoon at the William H. Pitt Center. The Pioneers improve to 12-16 on the year and 9-8 in league play, while the Blackbirds fall to 9-19 overall and 8-10 in league play.
LIU Brooklyn corralled a defensive rebound with five seconds left in the game, trailing 46-44, and Cleandra Roberts brought the ball up the court. She drove to the basket but was called for a charge as time expired. Her shot fell through, but was waved off as the Pioneers held on.
Gabrielle Washington (Mesa, Ariz.) scored 20 of her 26 points in the first-half, helping to rally Sacred Heart from an 18-14 deficit with 7:55 to play before intermission. Hanna Kimmel (Harpursville, N.Y.) began a 16-5 half-ending run with a three pointer with 7:13 to play. A Washington three with 5:26 before the break put SHU in front and the Pioneers led 30-23 at halftime.
The Blackbirds rallied in the second-half, taking a 39-37 lead with 8:56 to play in regulation when Fanny Cavallo put in a layup. Katie Shepard (Lone Tree, Colo.) answered two Pioneers possessions later, to tie the game, 39-39. The teams traded baskets and were tied 41-41, as Sacred Heart scored six straight points to take the lead for the final time.
Sacred Heart closes out its regular season on Monday at Fairleigh Dickinson at 7 p.m.
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