SALISBURY – Livingstone's Kayla Searcy nailed a pair of free throws with 17 seconds left to give the Blue Bears the lead for good as the hosts used a 16-3 run over the final 4:26 overcome the visiting UNC Pembroke women's basketball team, 69-68, on Tuesday evening in the road opener for the Braves in New Trent Gym.

The loss was the first of the season for UNCP (2-1), while Livingstone (2-0) remained perfect in 2015-16 and now holds a 3-1 series advantage over the Black and Gold.

Junior Jasmine Huntley led the Black and Gold with a career-best 25 points on 7-for-16 shooting from the field and a 70 percent success rate from the charity stripe. Chandrica Fuller and LaShonda Prichard both had double-digit scoring with 14 and 13 points, respectively, as Fuller was 8-for-9 from the foul line. Senior Mary Robinson pulled down a team-high 11 boards as Prichard also grabbed seven. Phoenicia Lawson tallied three of the team's five blocks, while Avery Locklear recorded four assists.

The two squads combined for 50 fouls with UNCP out-shooting the Blue Bears from the field with 35.4 percent shooting, including a 17-for-24 clip from the foul line. Livingstone out-rebounded the Braves by 14 and got the better end of the turnover battle with UNCP as well. The Black and Gold got 29 points from its bench compared to a mere two from the hosts, but allowed the Blue Bears to tally 13 points on second-chance shots.

The Braves carried an 18-15 lead at the end of the first quarter after picking up the pace by scoring 15 points in seven minutes. However, Livingstone out-shot UNCP in the second period, 13-10, to tie up the game as the teams headed into the half. Despite the Braves controlling a six-point lead at the end of the third quarter, Livingstone used a late rally to overcome UNCP's 12-point lead with less than five minutes remaining for the win.

The Blue Bears were led by Amber Curtis with a game-high 28 points, while Taylor Daniels had the game's only double-double with 12 points and 18 rebounds. Searcy logged 12 points and eight rebounds, while Toxiana Wilson controlled 11 boards

The Braves will return to Lumbee Guaranty Bank Court on Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest against Mount Olive (2-2) in regional play in Pembroke.