Area Sports Briefs: Livingstone women, both Catawba squads fall

Published 12:47 am Sunday, November 12, 2017

From staff reports

WEST CHESTER, Pa. — Livingstone fell to West Chester, 95-64, on Saturday evening in the women’s basketball season opener for both teams.

Coach Tiffany Silver’s Blue Bears are in West Chester for the two-day Carol Eckman Classic and had to play the host Rams first. Livingstone will battle Bloomsburg today at 1 p.m.

Livingstone has only two players — Asia Green and Zena Lovette — returning from last year’s team. Freshman I’Keya Bland, a guard from Washington, D.C., led the Blue Bears on Saturday with 13 points.

Kedra Bradley and Jade Porter followed Bland with eight points each and Imani Payne added seven. Nina Robinson, a 5-11 freshman forward, led Livingstone in rebounding with seven boards.

West Chester was led by Porscha Speller with 24 points, Justyn Roberts with 16 and Mia Hopkins’ 14 points and 16 rebounds.

The Rams took immediate control the contest, racing out to a 27-9 advantage and led, 34-11, at the end of the first quarter. It was 49-27 at halftime.

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HICKORY — Catawba fell to 1-1 on Saturday, losing to Barton, 58-49, in the SAC/CC Women’s Basketball Challenge.

Catawba shot 5-for-28 in the first two quarters to dig a 27-17 hole at halftime.

Catawba pulled within two points in the third quarter, but Barton stabilized and went on to to win.

Freshman Talia Barnes led Catawba with 10 points. Serena Brown had nine points, eight rebounds and six assists. Marshauna Butler and Madison Hallman scored nine points each.

Catawba will be without All-SAC post player Terri Rogers in the early going.

Dinah Hall scored 21 for the Bulldogs (2-0).

Catawba plays at Fayetteville State Wednesday.

Men’s basketball

PEMBROKE — Catawba fell to UNC Pembroke, 91-67, in the final game of the SAC/PBC Challenge on Saturday night at Lumbee Guaranty Court.

UNC Pembroke is ranked 21st.

Catawba played without standout Jameel Taylor. A preseason first team All-SAC pick, Taylor was injured in Friday’s opener.

UNC Pembroke never trailed and began to pull away midway through the first half. Catawba trailed at the break, 39-33.

Catawba got 16 points from Jerrin Morrison, who added eight rebounds. Malik Constantine and Jeremy McLaughlin chipped in with 11 points each.

UNCP put five players in double figures with Nigel Grant and Akia Pruitt posting double-doubles.

Catawba plays at Albany State on Friday.

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Tre Williams (Carson) scored a total of 30 points in Claflin’s first two games.

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Michael Connor (North Rowan) is playing for Point Park University in Pittsburgh. He totaled 27 points in the first three games.

College football

Unbeaten Virginia State blasted Fayetteville State, 42-19, in Saturday’s chilly CIAA football championship game played in Salem, Va. The game, drew 3,766 fans.

Trenton Cannon, CIAA Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for 186 yards on 16 carries. He scored on runs of 10, 73 and 79 yards.

Virginia State will be in the D-II playoffs when pairings are announced today.

Virginia State was No. 3 in the region prior to Saturday, but No. 1 Wingate lost to Tusculum, so Virginia State probably will move up to No. 2 or even No.1.

Congrats to @rowanyfl Super Bowl Champs

2/3/4th NR Cavs 21 GF Chargers 14.. 2OT

5/6th