Staff report

FAYETTEVILLE — First-place Fayetteville State got 25 points from Katisha Hyman and defeated Livingstone, 89-71, here Wednesday night in college women’s basketball action.

Livingstone had won four of its last five games, but found the sledding tough against the Broncos on their home court at Capel Arena. The Blue Bears (7-17 overall and 4-10 in the CIAA) also lost to FSU (16-7, 11-4) in Salisbury, 71-68, on Jan. 23.

The Broncos share the Southern Division lead with Winston-Salem State, so the challenge was a big one for Livingstone. FSU shooting 53 percent (34-of-64) from the field didn’t help the Blue Bears’ chances.

The Broncos also out-rebounded Livingstone, 47-21, including a 27-8 advantage on the glass in the first half.

FSU jump out to an 18-point, first-half lead at 41-23, with 5:18 left in the second quarter, but LC closed the half on a 14-3 run, cutting the deficit to 44-37.

Again, the Broncos established control, opening the third period with a 12-2 start, before Livingstone guard Daisa Harris sank a 3-pointer at the 6:55 mark.

Hyman had 10 of her points in the third period while Harris had eight for the Blue Bears, leading her team back to within 10 points (68-58), going into the final stanza.

Harris’ layup got LC to within six points (75-69) with 5:26 left in the contest, but FSU’s Yakima Clifton immediately scored and the Broncos began pulling away, as the Blue Bears hit a wall.

FSU closed the game on a 14-2 spurt, over the final five minutes.

Livingstone, led by Harris’ 26 points, shot just 40 percent for the game (25-of-62). Adel Allen followed Harris with 17 points, while Darra Walker added 13.

In addition to their outstanding field goal percentage, the Broncos made 17-of-22 free throws as well. Clifton followed Hyman’s 25 points with 16 of her own.

NOTES: With a 4-4 division record, Livingstone still remains in good shape for a decent tournament seeding. … The Blue Bears return to action on Saturday at J.C. Smith (2:00 p.m.).

LIVINGSTONE (71) — Green 6, Harris 26, Allen 17, Bradley 1, Searcy 2, Terry, Bland 6, Walker 13, Copeland.

FAYETTEVILLE STATE (89) — Hewitt 10, Clifton 16, Williams 8, Bennett 13, Hyman 25, Gainey, McCaskill 3, Covington, Thompson, James, Lindsay 4, Page, Muhammad 1, Maduegbunam 9.

Livingstone          17   20   21   13 — 71

Fayetteville St.    28   16  24   21 — 89