Livingstone started running away with a win Wednesday shortly after the opening tip. The Blue Bears needed just 4 minutes, 38 seconds to grab a 10-point lead.

Livingstone’s lead was cut under double digits just twice the rest of the way as it stayed beat Catawba 87-56 at New Trent Gym.

The Blue Bears (6-0) got a team-high 19 points and seven rebounds from Kyra Crosby. Her and-one on a putback with 7:29 left in the first half pushed Livingstone’s lead to 27-12.

“Before tonight, I challenged Kyra. She hadn’t put up the numbers we expected,” Livingstone head coach Anita Howard said. “So, I challenged her to play the type of basketball [she can play]. She had a phenomenal game.

“When she is clicking, everything else is easier.”

The Blue Bears led 42-26 at halftime. A quick basket by Crosby and a 10-second violation by the Indians set the tone for the second half. Crosby made it a 50-29 game with 17 minutes left on a drive to the basket in which she needed only two steps to get from the foul line to the block for a layup.

Livingstone (6-0) has three wins this year of 30 or more points. Howard said a few wins this year were ugly, but the players gelled together on Wednesday night. Livingstone’s next game is Saturday at USC Aiken.

While Livingstone ran away with the win, the Indians struggled. They were outrebounded 54-38 with as many defensive rebounds as the Blue Bears had offensive rebounds.

“We definitely know if we don’t show up, we’re not going to do too well,” Catawba head coach Angie Morton said.

After getting so far behind in the first half, the Indians looked at the first five minutes of the second half as critical at their chance of coming back and leaving with a win.

“In the first five minutes, we had to make a statement,” Morton said. “We’re not going to be very good if we give them opportunities to score. We had to press in the full court. (Precious Roberts) is a beast, and we couldn’t press her.”

The Blue Bears started the second half with a 14-6 run that lasted more than six minutes. Catawba managed only two field goals in the final seven minutes of the game.

Roberts and Cierra York had 14 points apiece. York and Alexis Fowler matched Crosby’s rebound total of seven.

Catawba (4-3) was led in scoring by Chloe Bully’s 20 points.

 

Adam Houston: 704-797-4287; twitter.com/AdamRHouston

 

BOX SCORE

CATAWBA (56): Morgan 6, Hodges, Bully 20, Dixon 4, Ucinki 5, Greer 2, Brown 7, Rogers 2, Johnson 8, Richardson, Brown, Newbold 2.

LIVINGSTONE (87): Walker 8, Grinage 2, Crosby 19, Hicks, Curtis 7, Searcy 2, Lepzem, Roberts 14, York 14, Malone 7, Daniels 5, Fowler 9.

Catawba 26 30 — 56

Livingstone 42 45 — 87