Livingstone Pulls Game Out in Dramatic Fashion

Livingstone 43, Virginia State 41

RALEIGH – The opening game of the 2004 CIAA Tournament between the Lady Blue Bears of Livingstone and the Lady Trojans of Virginia State was a low scoring affair, but a thriller none-the-less. With the score tied at 41-41, Livingstone came up with a steal and Dennisa Herndon's jumper from the foul line at the buzzer gave Livingstone the 43-41 victory at the RBC Center.

“First of all, we have to thank God for the win,” said Livingstone head coach Andrew Mitchell. “I wish I had said something great that I told them but all we did was pray, pray and pray. Throughout the whole game we were scrambling for things to do.”

As the final score indicated, it was a low scoring first half as well, as the Lady Trojans led 17-9 late in the first half. Livingstone went on an 8-2 run to cut its deficit to 19-17 on a three-pointer by Alycia Garrison with 40 seconds remaining. Tyechia Cooke's three-pointer to end the first half gave Virginia State a 22-17 halftime lead. Neither team shot well from the field, Livingstone 16 percent, Virginia State 31 percent and it looked as if the three by Cooke would give Virginia State the momentum going into the second half.

Virginia State led for most of the second half, but Livingstone tied the game at 34 on two free throws by Alycia Garrison with 6:19 remaining. Virginia State took the lead back as Alonna Marable completed a three-point play with 4:43 remaining. Livingstone took its first lead of the game 38-37 on Sherree Gillespie's lay-up with 2:06 remaining. Virginia State regained the lead 39-38 on a jumper by Erica Glasper with 1:40 remaining.

After the two teams exchanged free throws, two free throws by Gillespie with 6.8 seconds remaining tied the game at 41-41, setting up Livingstone's steal and Herndon's game-winning basket. Gillespie is a 61 percent free throw shooter. Livingstone will face # 1 seed in the eastern division, the Lady Bears of Shaw on Tuesday at 9:00 p.m.

“We'll show up and play hard,” said Mitchell. “I wish I knew what the outcome would be. May the best team win, but not necessarily the team with the best record.”

Gillespie had a game-high 16 points, while Herndon had 12. Three Lady Trojans had eight points a-piece.

-30-

Back to Game Schedule