Final Stats
BELMONT, NC – The Livingstone women's basketball team was unable to overcome a 32-point deficit Friday as the Blue Bears fell 76-63 to the Belmont Abbey Crusaders in their final tune-up before kicking off the CIAA conference season.
Livingstone struggled on both ends of the court in the first half Friday. The Blue Bears shot only 21.4 percent from the field while the Crusaders connected on 55.9 percent of their attempts. Neither team hit a lot of shots in the first five minutes as Livingstone trailed only 11-6 with 14:17 left. Belmont Abbey then went on a 15-0 run to open a 26-6 lead with 8:09 remaining in the first half.
Over the final eight minutes of the first half, the Blue Bears were able to draw some shooting fouls, but even the free-throw shooting was a struggle. Livingstone was limited to only 17 points in the first half and trailed 44-17 at the break. The 17 points was the lowest scoring total in a half for the Blue Bears since November 18, 2008 when Livingstone scored only 16 points in the first half against Bowie State.
Belmont Abbey took seven of the first nine points of the second half to take a 32-point lead. Livingstone started to hit a few shots early in the second half, but it wasn't until the clock ticked under 12 minutes to play that the Blue Bears really turned up the intensity.
Senior Rashida Elbourne knocked down a three-pointer with 11:27 on the clock that sparked a 16-0 run by the Blue Bears that got them within 61-46 with 7:34 left in the game. Livingstone then started to convert their free-throw attempts and got within 66-56 with 1:20 remaining. It was the first time the Blue Bears had been within 10 since the 12:58 mark of the first half. Despite the improved play on both ends of the court, the deficit was too much for the Blue Bears to overcome as they fell 76-63.
Livingstone was led by junior Kelcyn Manurs who finished with 17 points. Sophomore Tiffany Evans tied her career-high with 15 points. Senior Rashida Elbourne was the team's leading rebounder with four boards.
The Blue Bears finished the game shooting 30 percent from the field, 24 percent from three-point range and 75 percent from the charity stripe.
Livingstone will return to the court for its conference opener on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. when the Blue Bears host the Vikings of Elizabeth City State University.
