Staff report

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Livingstone played three great quarters and just one bad one — and held on for a 79-74 women’s basketball victory over Augusta here Wednesday night.

The Blue Bears (4-2), winners of four straight games, built a comfortable 17-point lead by halftime and maintained it through the third quarter. They moved into the final period with a 67-50 lead but Augusta (1-2) did not roll over.

The Jaguars shot lights out in the fourth quarter while Livingstone struggled with cold shooting. Augusta made up nine points in just two minutes, cutting the deficit to eight, and later pulled to within 73-69 with 1:06 left and 73-72 with 48 seconds remaining.

But Livingstone guard Zena Lovette, who had a game-high 33 points, swished 6-of-6 free throws in the final 21 seconds to secure the victory.

The Blue Bears made one field goal in the fourth quarter, but it was big one. Jade Porter nailed a 3-pointer with 5:57 left in the game, keeping Augusta temporarily at bay, 72-64. Lovette made eight foul shots for the period and Mia Terry added one.

Livingstone made just five of 30 shots from the floor in the second half, after red-hot shooting in the first half game them a commanding lead. The Blue Bears shot 51 percent in the first 20 minutes, sinking 18 of 35 shots.

For the game, Livingstone was at 35 percent (23-of-65) but won by hitting 28 of 33 free throws (85 percent). Coach Tiffany Silver’s Blue Bears also won the rebound battle (49-34) and second-chance points, 19-7.

Lovette scored 19 of her points in the first half and for the game, made 10 of 16 field goal attempts and was a perfect 12-for-12 at the foul line. She also had eight rebounds.

Kyala Searcy followed Lovette with 11 points and Porter added 10. Asia Green led the Blue Bears in rebounding with 10, while Nina Robinson grabbed nine boards.

Jahmia Bradley scored 15 of her team-high 25 points in second half for Augusta. Joshlyn Belcher followed with 20 points for the Jags. Moneisha Goldsborough scored 13 points and had a team-high seven rebounds for Augusta.

NOTE: Livingstone returns to action on Monday, with a 5:30 tilt against Claflin in Orangeburg, S.C. The Blue Bears are then at Lenoir-Rhyne on Dec. 7.

LIVINGSTONE (79) — Lovette 33, Searcy 11, Payne 5, Green 9, Robinson 2, Perkins 4, Bradley 3, Porter 10, Foote 1, Galay, Bland, Deberry, Terry 1.

AUGUSTA (74) — Belcher 20, Myers 7, Middleton 2, Bradley 25, Goldsborough 13, Smith, Grayden 2, Harris 3, Woodard 2.

Livingstone         29    23    15    12 —  79

Augusta                 9     26    15    24 — 74