Box Score
SALISBURY, NC – The Livingstone women's basketball team overcame a 19-point, first-half deficit and an uncharacteristically cold-shooting night to upset the Virginia State University Trojans 62-57 Thursday evening.
With the victory Livingstone improved its record to 7-3 overall and 2-1 in the CIAA while Virginia State fell to 7-4 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
The Blue Bears had some real trouble putting the ball in the basket in the first 20 minutes as through the first 13:53 Livingstone was held without a field goal. The Blue Bears did covert six of its first eight free-throw attempts and trailed 21-9 with 6:07 left.
Virginia State worked its lead up to 19 points at 31-12 with 1:53 left, but the Blue Bears ended the half on a solid run. The Blue Bears got within 12 with 35 seconds to play, but a three-pointer by the Trojans gave them a 15-point edge. Cassaundra Rhodes hit two free throws with two seconds left to get the score to 34-21 at the half.
For the first 10 minutes of the second half the Trojans and Blue Bears were battling. Virginia State's lead huddled around the 10-point mark through the first eight minutes before Livingstone cut it to eight points with 12:13 left.
After Virginia State increased its lead back to 10 points, Rashida Elbourne knocked down a three-pointer to cut the lead to seven with 10:23 left which sparked the Blue Bears into a 10-0 run and tied the game with just over seven minutes left. After the Trojans scored two points at the free-throw line, Rashida Elbourne connected on another three-pointer with 6:28 left to grab its first lead of the contest.
The trey by Elbourne started Livingstone on an 9-0 run as the Blue Bears led by seven with 4:27 left in the game. Virginia State got back within three with 3:49 left. Despite the pressure from the Trojans the Blue Bears held strong, not allowing Virginia State to regain its momentum. In the final minutes the Blue Bears converted their free-throw attempts to solidify the 62-57 victory.
Despite the poor first-half shooting the Blue Bears shot 23.9 percent for the game after hitting 37 percent of their shots in the second half. Livingstone also hit 80 percent of its free-throw attempts.
The Blue Bears will return to the court on Tuesday at home when the Bowie State Bulldogs come to Trent Gymnasium for a 5:30 p.m. start.
