FAYETTEVILLE, NC --The Fayetteville State women's basketball team scored 32 points off of turnovers on the way to a 75-66 win against the Livingstone Blue Bears at home Saturday.
The Broncos (21-2, 14-1) had two players score in double figures, led by Aniylah Bryant, who had 18 points and eight steals. Talia Trotter tacked on 17 points and two steals and Keayna McLaughlin added six points, five assists and two steals.
The Blue Bears (5-15, 3-13) led by Thalia Carter, scored 17 points along with 5 rebounds. Nielle Reaves also added on 14 points and 8 rebounds.
Fayetteville State forced 32 Livingstone turnovers while committing 20 themselves in Saturday's game. The Broncos turned those takeaways into 32 points on the other end of the floor. Bryant's eight steals led the way for Fayetteville State.
How It Happened
After falling behind 11-9, Fayetteville State went on a 6-0 run with 2:47 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Daziyahna Wilson, to take a 15-11 lead. The Broncos then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 15-13 advantage. Fayetteville State did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring eight of its 15 points close to the basket.
Livingstone rallied to take an 18-15 lead before Fayetteville State went on a 6-0 run starting at the 9:06 mark in the second period, highlighted by a bucket from Amina Miles, to take a 21-18 lead. The Blue Bears then came roaring back to take a 31-30 lead heading into halftime.
Following halftime, Fayetteville State kept the Blue Bears from growing their lead before going on an 11-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Trotter, to grab a 43-33 lead with 6:47 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the Blue Bears had cut into that lead somewhat, but the Broncos still entered the fourth quarter with a 51-43 edge. Fayetteville State played well near the basket, scoring 14 of its 21 points in the paint.
Fayetteville State kept widening that lead, expanding it to 59-49 before going on a 7-0 run, finished off by Morgan Graham's layup, to grow the lead to 66-49 with 5:07 to go in the contest. The Blue Bears narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Broncos still cruised the rest of the way for the 75-66 win. Fayetteville State fired away from deep in the quarter, knocking down four shots to account for 12 of its 24 points.
Game Notes
» The Broncos turned 32 turnovers into 32 points on the offensive end.
» The Broncos forced 32 Livingstone turnovers while committing only 20 on the other end.
» Aniylah Bryant swiped eight steals for the Broncos in the game.
» The Fayetteville State defense forced 32 turnovers.
» Aniylah Bryant led the Broncos with a game-high 18 points.
» Fayetteville State got five rebounds from both Ashara Hayes and Amina Miles.
The Broncos will travel to Orangeburg, South Carolina on Wednesday, February 21st to face off against the Claflin Panthers. Tip-off will begin at 5:30 pm.
