(Salisbury, NC) -  Shaw women's basketball team struggled to find an inside game, and could not keep Livingstone out of the paint, losing 83-72 in a game played at Trent Gym on the Livingstone campus.

The Lady Bears (12-8, 5-4 CIAA) struggled to find their scoring punch and could not penetrate Livingstone's (11-4, 6-2 CIAA) stifling defense, scoring only 10 points in the paint, compared to the Lady Blue Bears' 30.

The Lady Bears built a 10-0 lead to open the game on a smothering defense that forced three Livingstone turnovers that lead directly to eight points.  After Shaw gave up a bucket to the Lady Blue Bears, Jackie Sanders hit a three to give the Lady Bears a 13-2 lead - their largest of the game.

Livingstone started a full-court press and Shaw went cold, allowing the Lady Blue Bears to go on a 16-5 run over the next seven minutes, tying the score at 18 on Rasheda Elbourne's layup with 10:46 left in the first.

With 5:38 left in the first, Aslea Williams hit a free throw to give the Lady Bears a 27-23 lead.  The Lady Blue Bears then reeled off three straight threes - two off of Shaw turnovers - to give Livingstone the 32-27 lead. 

Over the remaining four-plus minutes of the half, Livingstone would outscore the Lady Bears 10-6 - including an Elbourne three with only three seconds left on the clock.

In the second half, the Lady Blue Bears steadily increased their lead with their ability to drive the lane, stretching their advantage to 17, 64-47, with another three-pointer from Elbourne. 

The Lady Bears then launched a 16-2 scoring run, and with 5:17 left on the clock, Shemieka Brown hit Jackie Sanders in the open, and Sanders sank the jumper to cut the score to 66-63.  That was the closest they would get, as Livingstone closed out the game on a 17-9 run for the 83-72 win.

Both Sanders and Williams had double-doubles for the Lady Bears.  Sanders had 16 points and 12 rebounds while Williams had 13 points and 10 boards.  Alyssa Lane also had 16 points for Shaw.

Elbourne led Livingstone with 23 points.  Brittany Wright had 18 and Khalia Boston had 14.  Wright led the Lady Blue Bears with nine rebounds.

On Monday, the Lady Bears travel to Fayetteville State where they will take on the Lady Broncos.  Tip is 5:30.  Shaw returns home Saturday, February 5 when they will host Johnson C. Smith at 6:00 p.m.

Photos:  Aslea Williams (left) goes up for a jumper in the first half against Livingstone.  Like Jackie Sanders (right), she would finish with a double-double.