Staff report

SALISBURY — Junior guard Daisa Harris pumped in 36 points here Wednesday afternoon, leading Livingstone past Belmont Abbey, 80-76, in women’s college basketball action at New Trent Gym.

Harris, who transferred this year from Harford Community College, made 13-of-25 shots from the floor and was perfect at the foul line (10-of-10). The 36 points is a new high at Livingstone for Harris, who scored 34 against Morris last week.

The 5-7 Harris, from Silver Spring, Md., is averaging 25.2 points per game for the Blue Bears, who evened their record to 3-3. Belmont Abbey falls to 2-3.

Coach Tiffany Silver’s Livingstone squad won the third quarter, 18-12, after a 35-35 deadlock at halftime. The Crusaders edged Livingstone in a free-scoring fourth period, 29-27.

Belmont Abbey actually had one-point leads on two different occasions in the final period, the last at 63-62 with 5:45 remaining. But a 3-point jumper from Adel Allen 10 seconds later gave the Blue Bears the lead for good at 65-63.

The Crusaders cut the margin to 77-76 with 24 second left on a 3-pointer from Allie Downing, but Harris and senior Kyala Searcy made free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.

Searcy followed Harris in the Livingstone scoring with 12 points, followed by Allen and Asia Green with 10 points each. Green led in rebounding with eight boards.

In addition to her 36 points, Harris also collected seven rebounds and dished out nine assists, for an all-around outstanding performance.

Livingstone shot well, 47 percent (29-of-62) from the floor and 78 percent from the foul line (18-of-23). The Blue Bears limited their turnovers to 15, compared to 20 for Belmont Abbey.

Downing led the Crusaders with 19 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Alexis Schulz with 14 points and 12 each for Keyanna Spivey and Maria Kuhlman, respectively.

NOTE: Livingstone returns to action next Tuesday, a 6 p.m. tip-off at Benedict in Columbia, S.C.

BELMONT ABBEY (76) — Roney 5, Davisson 2, Fungate 4, Downing 19, Spivey 12, Tomey 2, Kuhlman 12, Schulz 14, Hines 4, Thomas, Autry 2.

LIVINGSTONE (80) — Green 10, Harris 36, Bradley 9, Bland 2, Copeland 1, Perkins, Allen 10, Terry, Ezekiel, Searcy 12.

Belmont Abbey     12    23    12    29 — 76

Livingstone            24    11    18    27 — 80