JCSU Women Runs Past Livingstone, 84-58

Salisbury, N.C. (Feb. 17, 2018) – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team shook off a pesky Livingstone team in the first quarter and rolled to an 84-58 CIAA Southern Division win on Saturday at New Trent Gym in Salisbury.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to jump to a significant lead.  The Blue Bears started strong, jumping to a quick 10-4 lead, but JCSU responded to tie it at 12-12 with 4:39 remaining following a jumper from senior Asha Jordan (Monroe, N.C.).  JCSU then put together a 15-7 run to end the quarter, which ended on a Jasmine Carter (Dacula, Ga.) layup at the buzzer, giving the Golden Bulls the 27-19 lead.

The Golden Bulls were able to extend their lead to 38-28 in the second quarter when sophomore Malia Rivers (Pageland, S.C.) canned a three-pointer at the 4:18 mark.  Livingstone fought back, cutting the lead to 38-35 with 1:14 left.  The teams traded baskets over the next two possessions and JCSU took the 42-37 lead into the halftime break when Rivers hit a jumper at the halftime horn.

JCSU started the third quarter on a 6-2 spurt, strengthening their lead to 49-39 with 5:04 left. The Blue Bears then cut the lead to just seven points (51-44) with 3:01 to play, but JCSU closed the quarter on a 12-3 run, capped by a Jordan three at the third quarter buzzer to stake JCSU to the 63-47 lead.

JCSU continued to pour it on in the fourth quarter, racing out to a 72-49 lead.  Livingstone would get no closer than 18 points the rest of the way with the Golden Bulls winning 84-58.

JCSU was led by Jasmine Carter's 17 points.  Rivers finished with 15 while La'Zarea Bowens (Knightdale, N.C.) and Shanice Neita (Toronto, Ontario) had 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The win improves the Golden Bulls to 16-9 overall, 8-6 in CIAA play and 5-3 in divisional play while Livingstone drops to 6-18, 1-13 and 1-7.

The win also guarantees the Golden Bulls no lower than the third seed from the Southern Division with two games still remaining before the CIAA Tournament.