Staff report

LAKELAND, Fla. — Livingstone defeated Lake Superior State, 68-65, in college women’s basketball action here Thursday afternoon at Florida Southern College’s Jenkins Field House.

The Blue Bears came back from a 12-point third-quarter deficit in the opening game of the FSC/Terrace Hotel Classic. Guard Zena Lovette, playing in just her second game of the season for Livingstone, iced the issue by sinking three of four free throws in the final seconds.

Coach Anita Howard’s Blue Bears (4-3) will play again in the tournament today at 2 p.m., against Emmanuel (Ga.). Lake Superior (2-7) will battle the host Moccasins of Florida Southern.

Livingstone entered the fourth quarter with a 54-50 lead and stayed ahead until the Lakers tied the game at 59-59, with 4:05 remaining.

After a free throw from Lovette, Lake Superior took a 61-60 lead on a layup from MacKenzie Edwards at the 3:02 mark. A bucket from Tamara Novic put the Lakers up by three with just over two minutes left.

But guard Amber Curtis drilled a 3-point field goal 10 seconds later to knot the score and a jumper by Kyala Searcy put Livingstone up, 65-64, with 1:20 left to play. Novic’s free throw tied the game one last time with 24 seconds left before Lovette sank a foul shot with only five seconds remaining put the Blue Bears up for good.

Lovette was also fouled as time expired and her two free throws accounted for the final three-point victory.

Livingstone trailed at halftime, 37-27, and two minutes into the second half, the Blue Bears were down, 44-32. But Curtis and Bria Patterson, playing in her first game, connected on 3-pointers to begin the comeback. Lovette and Searcy also got hot and suddenly, the Blue Bears had a 45-44 lead before the third quarter ended.

Lake Superior opened the game in strong fashion, outscoring Livingstone, 26-16, in the first quarter. Edwards, Valerie Meissner and April LaCross each had six points for the Lakers to open the game.

Curtis led Livingstone with 21 points, including five three-pointers, while Patterson added 14 points, with four from behind the arc. Lovette added 11 points for the Blue Bears and pulled down a game-high seven rebounds.

Curtis had six rebounds to to along with her 21 points. Guard Brittany Taylor dished out six assists.

Novic led the Lakers with a game-high 20 points while Megan Manninen added 11. Edwards chipped in with 10 points.

Livingstone cut down on its turnovers, compared to Monday’s game against Paine, committing just 13. Lake Superior turned the ball over 20 times , thanks in part to 14 steals by the Blue Bears. Lovette led the way with four steals.

LAKE SUPERIOR ST. (65) — Meissner 8, Novotny 5, Manninen 11, Edwards 10, Peterson 2, Moffett, Rowe 2, LaCross 7, Novic 20, Jacobsen.

LIVINGSTONE (68) — Wilson 4, Curtis 21, Searcy 9, Lankford 3, Taylor 4, Patterson 14, Lovette 11, Grinage, Gadson, Daniels 2.

Lake Superior St.      25   12   13   15 — 65

Livingstone                16   11   27   14 — 68