Livingstone women struggle to score, lose at Claflin

Published 8:35 pm Monday, February 18, 2019

Staff report

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Claflin held Livingstone leading scorer Daisa Harris to just 11 points, en route to a 67-57 CIAA women’s basketball victory here Monday night.

The loss was Livingstone’s third straight, all on the road, after the Blue Bears had won four of five games. LC is now 7-19 overall, 4-12 in the conference and 4-6 in the Southern Division.

Claflin snapped a three-game losing skid with last night’s victory. The Panthers are now 13-13 overall and 9-9 in the CIAA (5-7 in the division).

Harris, a guard who averages almost 22 points per game, scored just four in the first half. She did score seven points in the third period as Livingstone took a 48-47 lead.

But Harris and the Blue Bears struggled in the final quarter, the team scoring just four points in the first eight minutes of the period. Harris went scoreless in the final period.

LC did pull to within four points at 59-55 with 1:33 remaining in the game, on a 3-pointer from guard Darra Walker. But from that point, Claflin pulled away on free throws down the stretch from Ashley Fields, Jamisha Dunigan and Shakarri Mack.

Claflin shot 46 percent from the field (24-of-52) and unbelievably, won the game despite missing 20 free throws (14-of-34).

Livingstone made 38 percent of its field goal attempts (21-of-55) and 21 percent of its 3-point tries (5-of-24). The Blue Bears also hurt themselves with 21 turnovers.

LC was whistled for 24 fouls, had two players foul out, and had two others saddled with four personals. Adel Allen, who fouled out late, led the Blue Bears with 12 points.

Walker scored nine points, all in the second half. Harris led the team with 10 rebounds.

Fields led all scorers with 19 points for Claflin, while Mack followed with 17.

NOTE: The Blue Bears return to action on Wednesday, hosting St. Augustine’s at New Trent Gym (5:30 p.m.,) prior to the men’s game.

LIVINGSTONE (57) — Green 9, Harris 11, Allen 12, Bradley 4, Searcy 2, Terry, Bland 3, Walker 9, Copeland 7, Pendergrass.

CLAFLIN (67) — Long 2, Windley, Mack 17, Hollins 4, Price 3, Jackson 9, Fields 19, Monyei 2, Dickens 10, Riddick, Robinson, Dunigan 1.

Livingstone      11    15    22     9  — 57

Claflin                16   18    13    20 — 67