Box Score

SALISBURY, NC – A valiant effort fell short Saturday for the Livingstone women's basketball team as they fell to the Catawba Indians 81-64.

Freshman guard Khalia Boston had a career-high 14 points and seven boards in the loss for the Blue Bears while senior guard Kayler McBride totaled 16 points and junior forward Cassaundra Rhodes had 12 points and seven rebounds.

Livingstone got out to a hot start against the Indians taking the first five points of the contest.  Catawba, however, who put up 101 points on the Blue Bears just over a week prior didn't stay down long, taking the next seven to go up 7-5.  In stark contrast to the last time these two teams played where Catawba had a double-digit lead within five minutes, Livingstone kept up the pressure and didn't allow Catawba to get too far ahead of them. 

Catawba's largest lead of the first half was only eight points with 3:26 remaining prior to halftime.  Livingstone cut the Indian lead down to two with 1:11 to play and a three-pointer by Khalia Boston gave the Blue Bears a one-point edge with just under a minute left, but Catawba responded with a three of their own to go back up by two and take their halftime lead of 32-30.

Boston led the Blue Bears in points at the half with 10 hitting all three of her shots from the field and both of her free throw attempts.  Rhodes had four points and five boards.  Three Blue Bears players were in foul trouble, Rhodes, McBride and junior guard Montiya Harrison each had three fouls at the half. 

Livingstone got the first points of the second half to tie the game at 32, but Catawba took 14 of the next 16 points to push their lead to double digits at 46-34.  The Blue Bears cut the deficit back down to nine with just under 12 minutes left, but couldn't get it any closer.  Each time Livingstone was able to score on the offensive end they were unable to come up with a stop on the defensive side of the ball.

As a team the Blue Bears shot 37 percent from the field.  Livingstone struggled from beyond the arc in the second half connecting on only one of 12 attempts from long range.  Livingstone held the advantage on the boards 46-40, but turned the ball over eight more times than the Indians. 

The Blue Bears will next suit up against Virginia Union at home on Saturday, January 2, 2010 for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.