GREENSBORO, N.C. – Led by a career-high 20 points from sophomore Shanese Harris (Chesapeake, Va/Western Branch), the UNCG women's basketball team defeated Livingstone, 81-77, in overtime Saturday afternoon at Fleming Gymnasium.

The Spartans improve to 5-7 on the season and Livingstone remains undefeated at 9-0 as this contest was an exhibition for the Division II college.

The Blue and Gold outscored the Lady Blue Bears 9-5 in overtime to come away with the victory. Senior forward Jarae Savage (Marietta, Ga./North Cobb) hit a jumper to start the extra period and Harris made a layup off a steal to put UNCG up 76-72 with 4:24 left.

Livingstone answered with a three-pointer from Labrea Walker to cut the lead to 76-75 with four minutes left in overtime. Junior guard Lucy Mason (Stone Mountain, Ga./Chamblee Charter) hit two free throws and a key jumper with just a minute left to seal the win. After a missed three-pointer from Livingstone, sophomore India Timpton (Charlotte, N.C./Myers Park) made a free throw to make the final score 81-77.

Four UNCG players were in double figures with Harris leading the way with 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting with six rebounds and three steals in 39 minutes. Savage fell short of her third-straight double-double posting 18 points (8-of-13) with five rebounds and a career-high seven steals.

Sophomores Bailey Williams (Harrisonburg, Va./Spotswood) and Jade Scaife (Fort Washington, Md./Archbishop Spalding) scored 14 points and 10 points, respectively.

The Blue and Gold shot 46 percent for the game on 29-of-63 from the field and was a solid 19-for-26 from the free throw line. The Spartans defense forced 27 turnovers for Livingstone and UNCG had a season-high 17 steals in the contest.

Former Division I player for Georgia State, Kyra Crosby had a double-double for Livingstone with 20 points and 15 rebounds but the Spartans limited Crosby to just four points in the second half and overtime.

In the first half, the Spartans led by 15 points but Livingstone trimmed the lead to only four points at 42-38 heading into intermission. Harris led UNCG with 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting with two rebounds. Williams and Scaife each scored eight points.

The Blue and Gold opened the game with a 9-4 lead after a jumper from Savage at the 16:08 mark. The Spartans would go on a 10-6 run to push their lead to 19-10 with 12:09 left in the half.

UNCG would hold its largest lead at 15 points after two free throws from Savage to make the score 28-13 with under 10 minutes left. Livingstone went on a 15-4 spurt to cut the lead to four with under five minutes left in the half.

The Spartans led 42-36 after two free throws from Harris with a minute left but Livingstone received a jumper from Alexis Hicks to make it 42-38 at the break.
The Lady Blue Bears came out firing to start the second half taking a 45-42 lead off a 7-0 run with 16:50 on the clock. UNCG would respond with back-to-back buckets from Harris to make the score 46-45 with just under 15 minutes left in the game.

Each team would re-take the lead but the Spartans took a five point lead after a jumper from Savage to make the score 58-53 with 11:57 remaining.  A layup from Mason pushed UNCG's lead to six points with 8:34 left in the second half.