Baltimore, MD – Bluefield State University women's basketball took down Livingstone College in their first game of the CIAA Basketball tournament, 59-56.
The Blue Bears struck first, but back-to-back layups from Shalance Montoya and Alexyss Newman put the Big Blue ahead by one. Later in the quarter, a jumper from Katrina Davis gave the Big Blue the three-point lead. The Blue Bears pulled within one heading into the second.
After the Blue Bears took the lead in the second, the Big Blue answered with nine consecutive points to take the 21-14 lead. The Blue Bears cut the lead to four with 31 seconds to go, but a bucket from Jayla Sample gave the Big Blue the six-point lead going into the half.
Midway through the third, the Blue Bears tied it up at 37 and later at 39. The Blue Bears took the one point lead with five seconds to go in the third, but two free throws from Davis gave the Big Blue the one point lead going into the third.
The Big Blue quickly went to work with a layup from Gabrielle Thomas and a three from Davis to take the 48-42 lead. The Blue Bears pulled within one, but another Davis three extended the Big Blue lead to four. With just under a minute left to play, a three from the Blue Bears cut the Big Blue lead to two but a free throw from Azariah Binford pushed the Big Blue ahead 59-56. A defensive rebound from Thomas with five seconds left sealed the 59-56 victory for the Big Blue.
Thomas earned Food Lion MVP of the game, coming away with 13 rebounds and eight points. Newman led the scoring for the Big Blue with 20 points.
Up Next
The Big Blue will take on Fayetteville State Wednesday, February 28th at 4:30 p.m.
