LAKELAND, Fla. — Amber Curtis and Toxiana Wilson combined for 49 points and 15 rebounds to power Livingstone to an 80-75 women’s basketball victory over Emmanuel in the second day of the Florida Southern College/Terrace Hotel Classic, here Friday afternoon at George Jenkins Field House.
Curtis, a senior guard, led all scorers with 28 points, hitting on 10 of her 22 field goal attempts and grabbing a team-high eight rebounds while Wilson, a freshman forward, connected on 8 of 11 field goals for 21 points and seven boards. Bria Patterson also added to the Blue Bear attack with 17 points.
Livingstone improves to 5-3 and now breaks for Christmas. The Blue Bears’ next game will be on Dec. 30 at Paine (Ga.).
Livingstone coach Anita Howard felt good about her team’s week, winning twice in Florida after beating Paine at home on Monday. The Blue Bears defeated Lake Superior State on Thursday, 68-65.
“It definitely feels very nice to go into the holiday break on a winning streak,” said Howard, whose team lost a few games earlier when they only had seven healthy players. The team now had 10 players.
“Yes, that was a tough stretch for us, but the girls fought through the adversity,” continued Howard. “Even down here at this tournament, we were definitely undersized inside against these two opponents. But our ‘mighty mites’ fought and came out on top.”Emmanuel (6-4) scored the first seven points of the contest and rode the fast start to a 17-11 lead at the end of the period and kept the momentum rolling, taking a 43-34 lead at halftime.Curtis and Wilson netted eight and seven points, respectively, in the third period while the Blue Bears’ defense forced 10 turnovers. Livingstone outscored Emmanuel, 21-7, in the period, taking a 55-50 lead.
The Lions chipped away at the Blue Bears lead and pulled within two points, 73-71, with 1:29 left on free throws by Elise Coberly. Patterson helped secure the Livingstone win with five points in the closing 1:13.
Howard had praise for Curtis, from Savannah, Ga., who averaged 24.5 points for the two-game tournament.
“She (Curtis) really stepped up big today,” said Howard. “It’s the sign of a great leader to be top scorer but also have the most assists (6), like she did today. And she was 8-of-10 at the foul line.”
Wilson, a freshman from Columbus, Ga., is also playing very well for the Blue Bears.
“Being a freshman, Toxiana has a lot on her plate, but she is playing out of her mind right now,” said Howard. “She did a great job playing against the ‘bigs’ down in the post during this tournament.”
Mikayla Trombley scored 16 points to lead five players in double figures for Emmanuel followed by Coberly, who netted 15 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Chester added 11 points for the Lions while Avery Scarbrough and Timia Reynolds each contibuted 10 points.
The two squads were whistled for a combined 41 fouls, leading to 54 total free throws taken during the game. Livingstone was 23-for-31 at the line while Emmanuel was 22-of-23.
Florida Southern College Sports Information contributed to this article.
LIVINGSTONE (80) — Wilson 21, Curtis 28, Searcy 4, Lankford 2, Taylor 1, Patterson 17, Lovette 5, Gadson, Daniels 2.
