NEW TRENT GYM, Salisbury NC -- Fayetteville State found itself in unfamiliar territory entering the fourth quarter Wednesday night—trailing on the road. But the Broncos showed the poise of a team chasing a championship, using a dominant late run to pull away from Livingstone for a 64–55 CIAA victory inside New Trent Gym.
With the win, Fayetteville State improved to 13–2 overall and 7–1 in conference play, while Livingstone fell to 4–14 and 3–5 in the CIAA.
Fayetteville State was led by another all-around performance from standout Talia Trotter, who nearly posted a double‑double with 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals. Taleah Stephens joined her in double figures with 10 points, while KaNyah O'Neal contributed seven points and five steals in a game defined by defense, effort, and timely scoring.
Livingstone's offensive hopes centered around forward Breasia Coit, who finished with 13 points and an impressive 14 rebounds, while Ny'Asia Green added 11 points behind a trio of made threes. But the Blue Bears struggled to convert consistently, shooting just 30.3 percent from the floor and 25 percent from long range. Boston Bates, the team's usual scoring leader, was limited to six points on 3‑of‑17 shooting as the Broncos' defense tightened around her throughout the night.
Fayetteville State's ability to control the glass proved decisive. The Broncos won the rebounding battle 46–38, including 14 offensive rebounds that created 10 second‑chance points. Kelis Carmon set the tone with three offensive boards, while Trotter and Nyah Wilkins each pulled down seven or more rebounds to secure additional possessions when the offense stalled.
Livingstone opened the game hot, knocking down three early threes and taking a 22–17 lead after the first quarter. But the Broncos responded with an 8–0 burst to start the second, reclaiming the lead at 25–22 and holding on to enter halftime ahead 33–30.
The momentum swung again in the third as Livingstone pressed defensively and converted transition opportunities. Green and Nielle Reaves hit timely shots while the Blue Bears held Fayetteville State to 25 percent shooting in the period. Livingstone carried a 48–46 edge into the fourth quarter, and when they later stretched the advantage to 55–52, the home crowd roared in anticipation of an upset.
Instead, the Broncos delivered the knockout punch.
Zaria Gool ignited a pivotal 12–0 run, attacking the rim for a layup with 3:05 remaining. From there, Fayetteville State clamped down defensively, holding Livingstone scoreless for the remainder of the game. The Blue Bears shot just 3‑of‑18 in the fourth quarter, unable to counter the Broncos' patience and ball movement on the other end.
Amina Miles provided eight points off the bench on a perfect 4‑for‑4 shooting night, helping Fayetteville State's reserves outscore Livingstone's bench 28–10. Samiyah Barker added nine points in nine minutes, giving the Broncos another spark when their offense bogged down.
The win keeps the Broncos firmly near the top of the CIAA standings as the calendar turns deeper into conference play.
For additional updates on Broncos Athletics, visit FSUBroncos.com and follow @FSUBroncos on social media.
