Staff report

ETTRICK, Va. — Livingstone had to play three-fourths of Saturday’s game against Virginia State without senior guard Amber Curtis and the Blue Bears fell to the Trojans, 57-49, in CIAA women’s basketball action.

Curtis, the team’s obvious leader with 36 minutes and 19.6 points per game, went out in the first half with an ankle injury, after playing just 12 minutes and scoring two points.

The loss ended Livingstone’s three-game winning streak and drops the overall record to 8-5 (3-1 CIAA). Virginia State improves to 7-6 and 3-2.

After a great shooting performance in a Thursday night win over Elizabeth City State, the Blue Bears shot poorly on Saturday, making just 23 percent from the field (14-of-60).

The cold shooting led to a slow start for the Blue Bears, as they fell behind, 18-10, after one quarter and then managed to score just seven points in the second period.

The Trojans led at halftime, 32-17.

Livingstone picked up its play early in the third period, pulling to within five points at 32-27, on a jumper from Wende Foster at the 7:15 mark. However, the Trojans then went on a 14-2 run to close out the period.

Trailing 46-29 entering the final quarter, the Blue Bears rallied somewhat behind points from Brittany Taylor and Zena Lovette, but could get no closer than 49-43, with 2:23 remaining.

Wynterra Pittman and Kiyana Stokes made free throw down the stretch to cap things for Virginia State.

Foster led Livingstone with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Lovette had 10 points and nine rebounds while Toxiana grabbed 10 boards to go with six points. Taylor added seven points and seven rebounds.

The Trojans were led by a huge double-double by Pittman, a 5-11 forward, who scored 15 points and took down 15 rebounds. Miesha Adams and Stokes scored 10 points each.

Livingstone’s three-game CIAA road trip resumes on Monday with a 5:30 tip-off at Chowan.

 

LIVINGSTONE (49) — Wilson 6, Lovette 10, Curtis 2, Foster 14, Taylor 7, Patterson 8, Lankford, Fowler 2.

VIRGINIA STATE (57) —Hagins 5, Pittman 15, Jordan 5, Adams 10, Hickman 7, Taylor, Stokes 10, McKinney, Brown 2, Moguel 3.

 

Livingstone            10    7    12    20  —  49

Virginia State        18   14    14    11   —  57