BLOOMFIELD, N.J. - The women's basketball team extended their winning streak to four games with a 54-52 victory over visiting LIU Post Tuesday evening at the Bloomfield Gym. Freshman forward Deja McKenzie (Baltimore M.D.) had an outstanding performance off the bench for the Bears going 6-for-7 from the field for a game-high 12 points in the non-conference battle with the Pioneers. Bloomfield improved to 4-1 on the season overall while the setback dropped LIU Post to 0-4 in 2015.

Tianna Smith (Spring Valley, N.Y.) was the only other Bear to finish in double-figures with 11 points (4-18 FG, 2-2 FT) as Bloomfield struggled offensively to start the contest. The home team managed only 9 points in the opening quarter and trailed until a McKenzie jumper put them up 7-6. The Bears shooting woes continued in the second quarter with the team posting just 10 points and went into the locker room trailing the Pioneers 22-19. Bloomfield shot 21.9 percent from the field in the first two quarters including 2-11 from downtown.

The Bears found their stride in the third quarter as Ilysia Lewis (Baltimore, M.D.) hit a freethrow to tie the game at 24 and then a layup to give the home squad the lead for good. LIU Post seemed powerless when Bloomfield clawed out a 12-3 spurt to close out the quarter for an eleven-point (43-32) advantage. Mckenzie poured in 8 points in the frame and put the Bears in position for the win.

A layup by Ariel Wilson (Chesapeake, Va.) early in the 4th quarter extended Bloomfield's largest lead to twelve (45-33) but the Pioneers still had some fight left in them. A basket by senior Khia Gibbs (Norwalk Conn.) drew LIU Post to within one (52-53) and capped a 19-8 charge that had the visiting team on the verge of their first victory in 2015 with fifty-four seconds left in the game. The Bears held on for the win after Morgan Taylor (Paterson, N.J.) sank a freethrow down the stretch for her only point of the game and the Pioneers could not convert a basket to change the outcome of the match.

Bloomfield shot 46.7 percent from the field in the final two quarters on the strength of a 5-5 performance from McKenzie. Lewis finished with 9 points (3-7 FG, 3-6 FT) to go along with 2 steals and 2 assists. Wilson had 5 steals, 4 points and 3 rebounds in the win and De'Andra Humphries (Boston, Mass.) chipped in 6 points in her third start for the Bears.

On the Pioneers side of the ball, Gibbs ended her evening with 8 points (3-7 FG, 2-2 FT) while classmate Jalyn Brown (Riverhead, N.Y.) and freshman Robyn Francis (Rosedale, N.Y.) each contributed 9 points. 

Bloomfield will hibernate for Thanksgiving before suiting up for a Sunday showdown on the road against Franklin Pierce. The drive to New Hampshire will feature the Bears taking on the Ravens at 3:00 pm in a non-conference regional battle. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, from the Bloomfield College athletic department by liking the Bears on Facebook and following the Bears on Twitter or Instagram @GO_BCBears. Use the hashtag #BCBears to join the conversation.