Box Score

SALISBURY, NC – The Blue Bear women's basketball team struggled to put points on the board Saturday as they fell to the Bowie State Bulldogs 51-46. 

Livingstone fell behind 6-2 early in the first half, but battled back to trail by one at 9-8 with just under five minutes gone in the first half.  The Blue Bears grabbed their first lead of the game at the 10:10 mark, 16-15. 

Over the next four minutes the two teams traded leads, but Bowie pulled away slightly 24-20 with 5:11 to play in the half.  Livingstone proceeded to go on a 5-1 run to tie the game at 25 with 4:06 on the clock.  Bowie State took the final four points of the half to take a 29-25 lead at the half.

The first five minutes of the second half were ugly on both sides of the floor as the two teams combined for a total of four points scored in the first 5:10 of the second half.  Livingstone trailed by eight with 13:52 to play, but were able to cut the deficit to three with 9:22 to play.  The Blue Bears continued to stay within striking distance, but couldn't take the lead from the Bulldogs.  Bowie held off a late run by the Blue Bears to take the game 51-46.

The Blue Bears didn't place any players in double-figure scoring.  Sophomore forward Cassaundra Rhodes and sophomore guard Rashida Elbourne each scored seven points to lead the team.  Junior forward Brittany Wright led the team with eight rebounds.

The Blue Bears fired the ball from the field 71 times over the course of the 40 minutes, but only 20 of those shots found the bottom of the net.  Livingstone also struggled from the free-throw line, converting only four of 14 free-throw attempts. 

With the loss the Blue Bears fell to 4-9 overall and 2-6 in the conference while the Bulldogs improved to 7-4 overall and 7-2 in the CIAA.

The Blue Bears will host the Lincoln University Lions Monday evening at 5:30 p.m.