FAYETTEVILLE — Senior guard Amber Curtis scored a game-high 21 points but it wasn’t enough as Livingstone fell to Fayetteville State, 65-63, here Wednesday night in CIAA women’s basketball action.

The Blue Bears lose for the fourth straight time, slipping to 3-4 in the CIAA and 8-8 overall. The Broncos improve to 11-8 overall and 5-3 in the conference.

Livingstone led for much of the first half, but trailed at halftime and could never regain the lead during the second 20 minutes, even though it waged a furious rally at the end.

The Broncos went up by as much as 12 points, at 53-41, when Bri’nesha Powell made a jumper with 7:10 left in the final period.

Livingstone battled back and Curtis scored 12 of her points down the stretch, helping the Blue Bears cut into the lead as time was getting short.

Brittany Taylor’s layup and another one from Kyala Searcy cut the Broncos’ lead to 61-58 at the 2:08 mark. But FSU’s Emerald Smith made a huge 3-pointer just 12 seconds later to give the home team some breathing room.

The teams traded free throws in the final minute and Zena Lovette’s layup with 48 seconds remaining was Livingstone’s final score, but the Blue Bears fell two points short.

After Curtis’ 21 points, Taylor followed with 11. Lovette and Bria Patterson scored nine points each and Lovette also led the team in rebounding with seven boards.

Bria Robinson paced Fayetteville State with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Vanessa Hinnant followed with 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Shamaiya Battle added 10 points for the Broncos.

Livingstone shot just 33 percent for the game (23-of-69) while the Broncos fared better at 41 percent (25-of-61).  Both teams shot well from the foul line, Livingstone making 10 of 11 while FSU sank 13 of 15 free throws.

Livingstone jumped out to a 12-2 lead in the first quarter, when Lovette’s 3-pointer dropped at the 5:28-mark.

Fayetteville St. chipped away throughout the second quarter and finally pulled away with three minutes left in the half, 22-21, on a layup from Robinson. Doreen Richardson, a Salisbury High School grad, made a jumper for a three-point FSU lead. Richardson finished the game with six points.

Turnovers plagued both squads, as FSU had 26 and Livingstone committed 22. Both teams turned the ball over 12 times in the first half.

Livingstone returns to action on Saturday with another CIAA road game — at J.C. Smith for a 2 p.m. tip-off.

 

LIVINGSTONE (63) — Lovette 9, Wilson 6, Taylor 11, Patterson 9, Curtis 21, Foster 2, Searcy 4, Fowler 1, Lankford.

FAYETTEVILLE STATE (65) — Hinnant 15, Robinson 18, Mason 7, Smith 3, Richardson 6, Best 2, Battle 10, Powell 4, Maduegbunam.

 

Livingstone                          12     13     13    25 —  63

Fayetteville St.                      8     21     16    20  —  65