Livingstone Blue Bears Eliminated from CIAA Tournament

Bowie State Bulldogs defeat Blue Bears 72-51 in semifinal matchup

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Livingstone's women's basketball team lost to Bowie State 72-51 in the CIAA Tournament semifinal on Wednesday evening. The Blue Bears, who had advanced past Elizabeth City State in the opening round, struggled in the season-ending loss, shooting just 28% from the field and committing 19 turnovers. Bowie State, one of the tournament favorites, led 33-24 at halftime and pulled away in the second half.

Why it matters

The CIAA Tournament is a prestigious event for historically Black colleges and universities, and the Blue Bears' early exit is a disappointment for the program and its fans. Livingstone had hoped to make a deeper run in the tournament after a challenging regular season.

The details

Bowie State (19-7) shot 41% from the field and made 13 turnovers, while the Blue Bears (9-20) struggled offensively. CIAA Defensive Player of the Year Breasia Coit led Livingstone with 14 points and 17 rebounds, while Ny'Asia Green also scored 14 points. Mayah Garner scored 13 for the victorious Bulldogs.

  • The semifinal game was played on Wednesday evening, February 25, 2026.
  • Livingstone had advanced to the semifinal by defeating Elizabeth City State in the opening round on Tuesday.

The players

Breasia Coit

CIAA Defensive Player of the Year for Livingstone, who led the Blue Bears with 14 points and 17 rebounds in the loss.

Ny'Asia Green

Livingstone player who also scored 14 points in the semifinal defeat.

Mayah Garner

Bowie State player who scored 13 points to lead the Bulldogs to victory.

Bowie State

One of the tournament favorites, the Bulldogs defeated Livingstone 72-51 to advance to the CIAA Tournament final.

Livingstone

The Blue Bears women's basketball team, who were eliminated from the CIAA Tournament with the semifinal loss to Bowie State.

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The takeaway

Livingstone's early exit from the CIAA Tournament is a disappointment for the program, but the Blue Bears can use this experience to motivate themselves for next season and work to make a deeper run in the prestigious conference tournament.