Baltimore, MD — On Tuesday afternoon inside CFG Bank Arena, the Lady Blue Bears delivered a comeback for the ages, rallying past Elizabeth City State, 59–46, in the opening round of the 2026 CIAA Tournament.

The afternoon began shakily for Livingstone. Shots simply refused to fall as the Blue Bears opened the game just 1-for-20 from the field in the first quarter, quickly falling behind 16–3. Elizabeth City State capitalized early behind the hot shooting of Tionna Pettus, who knocked down two early threes to help the Vikings seize control.

But the Blue Bears never panicked.

In the second quarter, Livingstone flipped a switch. Led by Damaria Moree, whose relentless drives earned her repeated trips to the line, and Nielle Reaves, who controlled the glass, the Blue Bears erupted for 20 points in the period. Their defense tightened as well, holding ECSU to just eight. By halftime, Livingstone had clawed its way back into the game—and suddenly, momentum had swung firmly in their direction.

After a gritty third quarter, the Blue Bears entered the final frame tied and hungry. From there, they completely took over. Livingstone outscored Elizabeth City State 26–8 in the fourth quarter, overwhelming the Vikings with suffocating defense, transition pressure, and complete dominance on the boards. Second‑chance points proved decisive, as the Blue Bears collected 22 for the game thanks to a massive 55–29 rebounding advantage.

Nielle Reaves anchored the comeback with efficiency and toughness, shooting 6-for-9 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 from the line, finishing with a double‑double of 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Following closely behind was Damaria Moree, whose energy completely shifted the momentum. She attacked the rim, defended at a high level, and provided a spark whenever Livingstone needed it. Moree also finished with a double‑double, posting 15 points and 10 rebounds.

For the Vikings, Tionna Pettus led the way with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals, including two early three-pointers that helped ECSU build its first‑quarter lead.

Livingstone's relentless defensive pressure produced 18 steals, forcing the Vikings into 24 turnovers—a game‑changing statistic that fueled both the comeback and the decisive fourth‑quarter run.

With the victory, the Blue Bears advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face Bowie State on Wednesday, February 25 at 4:30 PM.