Box Score

SALISBURY, NC – The Livingstone women's basketball team couldn't put together two solid halves Monday evening as they fell to the Virginia State Trojans 88-59.

The Blue Bears came out strong to start the game taking the first six points and continued to lead for most of the first half.  Livingstone held it's largest lead of the first half with 10:57 remaining as they led 20-12.  With 2:35 left in the half, the Trojans pulled even for the first time in the game with a 34-34 score.  Virginia State took their first lead on their next trip down the court to go up 36-34.  The Trojans led by five after a bucket with 10 seconds left, but senior guard Kayler McBride banked in a running three-pointer as time expired to cut the Trojan lead to two at the half, 41-39.

The Trojans came out with the firm hand to start the second half as they went on a 22-6 run over the first nine minutes of the second half to open up an 18-point cushion.  Livingstone was unable to stop the Trojan offense as they slowly continued to build their lead.  Virginia State took the game 88-59.

The Blue Bears were led offensively by McBride and sophomore forward Cassaundra Rhodes who each had 12 points.  Also in double figures was sophomore guard Rashida Elbourne who had 10 points.  Junior forward Brittany Wright had another double-figure rebound game with 11.

As a team the Blue Bears shot 35.5 percent from the field including 26.7 percent from beyond the arc and 61.1 percent from the charity stripe.  Turnovers cost the Blue Bears heavily as the Trojans scored 34 points off 27 Blue Bear turnovers.  Virginia State's bench also contributed heavily, outscoring the Livingstone bench 42-13.

With the loss the Blue Bears fall to 1-4 in the CIAA and 3-6 overall while the Trojans improve to 10-1 overall and 7-0 in the conference.

The women will play the final game of their three-game home stand Saturday at 5:30 against the Tigers of St. Paul's College.