Livingstone tops Catawba 101-88 with big effort on the boards

SALISBURY, NC -- Three Catawba players scored over 20 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a big edge on the boards by Livingstone as the host Blue Bears took a 101-88 victory in women’s basketball action on Wednesday night at Trent Gym. Livingstone improves to 4-1, while the Catawba Indians fall to 4-4.

Livingstone grabbed a 54-38 edge on the glass, including 25 on the offensive end to post the win. The Blue Bears scored 29 points on second-chance baskets. Cassaundra Rhodes had a double-double for Livingstone with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Rashida Elbourne followed with 22 points.

Dana Hicks (York, SC/Gaston Day) collected her seventh straight double-double to lead Catawba as she scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Kisha Long (Dallas, NC/Gaston Day) scored 21 points and Elizabeth Merritt (Lexington, NC/E. Davidson HS) tallied a career-best 20 points with eight rebounds.

Livingstone never trailed and held the lead for good after Elbourne snapped an eight-all tie on a three-pointer at the 16:16 mark of the opening half. The Lady Indians had just a free throw by Hicks and a three-pointer by Long over the next four minutes and two more from behind the arc by Elbourne increased the Livingstone edge to 27-14.

The Blue Bears built a 35-18 lead with just over eight minutes to go in the half, but Long hit two three-pointers to help Catawba cut the margin to 38-29. Catawba hit on six free throws over the final minute of the half to close within 50-43 at the break. Long tallied 13 of her points in the opening frame, while Rhodes had 14 points and eight boards for Livingstone.

Catawba beat the Livingstone press to begin the second half and converted some easy baskets and when Long converted a three-point play, the Lady Indians were down just 60-59 with 14:17 remaining. The Lady Indians had two possessions to take the lead, but turned the ball over on both occasions. Elbourne then sparked Livingstone, scoring seven straight points, as the Blue Bears returned to a safe margin at 83-67 with 7:44 left.

The Lady Indians got back to within single digits, but Kelcyn Manurs banked home a three-pointer with the shot clock running out at the four minute mark to give Livingstone a 90-78 edge. Manurs iced the game on a three-point play with 2:05 left for a 95-84 advantage.

Manurs added 17 points for Livingstone off the bench with Brittany Wright scoring 16 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Elicia Gilliam-Washington had 10 points, six rebounds and eight assists. Milica Ivanovic (Belgrade, SERBIA/Sports High/Bethel) had 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Catawba.