When CIAA divisional play begins,you can ignore the records of participating teams.  Just because a team is on a 12-game losing streak is no reason to think the team is a pushover.  Johnson C. Smith's women's basketball team found that out Saturday in New Trent Gym in Salisbury.

Livingstone outscored JCSU 40-30 in the first half on the way to defeating the Golden Bulls 76-57. The victory marks Livingstone's first victory of 2019, and the first time since Jan. 25, 2016 that the Lady Blue Bears have defeated the Golden Bulls.

JCSU only had two players score in double figures as Teana Lewis and Rayeesha Hewlett both contributed 11 points.  DeNajah Porter and DeJane' James both took down 8 rebounds each as the Golden Bulls out rebounded LC 58-42 in one of the positive points of the afternoon and that advantage translated into a 20-9 edge in second-chance points for JCSU.

After going into halftime down by 10 points, the Golden Bulls saw Livingstone's lead  expand to 29 points in the fourth quarter before a late surge cut the final margin to 19.

JCSU never led in the game.

With the loss, the Golden Bulls fall to 9-10 overall (6-3 CIAA, 2-1 Southern Division).  Livingstone improves to 4-15 overall, 1-8 in CIAA play and 1-2 in the Division.

JCSU returns to action Monday when they host Claflin University, the CIAA's newest member, inside Brayboy Gymnasium. Tip off is set for 5:30 p.m.