Staff report

BALTIMORE — Livingstone’s women’s basketball team couldn’t overcome a seven-point second quarter and bowed out quietly from the CIAA Tournament.

Bowie State beat the cold-shooting Blue Bears 68-54 on Thursday. The Blue Bears finished second in the Southern Division during the regular season, which gave them a bye into the quarterfinals. Thursday was the third day of the event, but it was Livingstone’s first action, and the Blue Bears shot just 31.6 percent at CFG Bank Arena.

Morgan Kelson led Livingstone with 11 points. Nielle Reaves scored 10.

Sestiny Ryles scored 21 for the Bulldogs (19-11). Mia Smith had 12 points and 10 rebounds and was announced as game MVP.

Bowie State advances to play Virginia State in a semifinal on Friday afternoon.

The other semifinal pits Fayetteville State against Virginia Union. Three teams in the Final Four are from the Northern Division.

Livingstone    15   18    20   15   — 68

Bowie State   13    7     13    21    — 54

LC scoring — Kelson 11, Reaves 10, Carter 7, Crawford 7, Briggs 5, Griffith 4, Coit 4, Green 3, Gray 2, Cherrington 1.