BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – A tough shooting night doomed the LIU Post women's basketball team in a key East Coast Conference road test at the University of Bridgeport, falling by a 69-64 final on Wednesday, Feb. 20.
 
The Pioneers fall to 8-8 in ECC play with the setback, dropping to fifth in the league's standings while Bridgeport improves to 8-7 on the year and overtakes LIU Post for the No. 4 spot and currently are in position for the final quarterfinal postseason contest.
 
LIU Post shot just 34-percent (24-71) from the field, including just 10-percent (2-20) during the opening 10 minutes. The Pioneers out-rebounded the Purple Knights, 47-41, including a 17-8 edge in offensive rebounds and were able to capitalize with 17 second chance points.
 
Senior Shannon Doyle led the Pioneers with 15 points and four rebounds, while redshirt-junior Robyn Francis chipped in 13 points with four boards. Junior Mikaiya Moore grabbed a team-best 11 rebounds on the night, and senior Kyla Formey tallied five points in her first career start.
 
Bridgeport received a dominant effort from Samnell Vonleh who contributed 30 points on 9-of-15 (.600) shooting, including a 12-for-15 (.800) effort from the free-throw line. Vonleh added a game-high 13 rebounds to tally a double-double for the Purple Knights.
 
A three-pointer at the halftime buzzer by Doyle helped the Pioneers enter the locker room trailing by just six points (34-28), clawing back after the dismal start from the floor. The tenacity continued during the third quarter, as Bridgeport stretched the lead up to nine points (45-36) before the Green and Gold went on a 9-2 run to close the period to make it a two-point game (47-45) to begin the fourth.
 
The run continued with LIU Post scoring the first four points of the period to take a brief 49-47 advantage. A Francis layup and another layup by junior Dominique Williams gave the Pioneers a 53-49 lead with 7:26 to play. LIU Post eventually led by as many as five points, but the Purple Knights stormed back with a 15-4 burst on Senior Night to retake the lead, 65-59 with 33 seconds remaining. The Pioneers were unable to chip away from there, as Bridgeport held on for the 69-64 final.
 
The Pioneers return to the Pratt Recreation Center for the final home regular season contest of the 2018-19 campaign when LIU Post hosts Mercy College at 1:30 p.m. The Green and Gold will honor its five members of the women's basketball Class of 2019 prior to tip off for Senior Day.