Box Score PHOTO GALLERY | Charlotte, N.C. (Feb. 26, 2016) – Virginia Union's Kiana Johnson lit up Livingstone to the tune of 41 points as the Northern Division top-seed rolled over the Blue Bears 93-63.  The win puts Virginia Union into the CIAA Championship game for the fourth time and the first time since 2004.  The Panthers will take on Southern Division top-seed Shaw for the league crown on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.

First quarter play saw Virginia Union (24-2), the top seed from the Northern Division, fall down early 4-0 as Livingstone connected on its first two attempts before Kiana Johnson nailed a three pointer, her first points of a 27 point first half performance.  VUU would then stretch their lead to as many as 11 at 19-8, after an Ashley Smith converted a layup at the 4:08 mark.  Livingstone would trim the lead to six points after Amber Curtis drained a three pointer to pull the Blue Bears to within 23-17.  The Panthers got a jumper and a three pointer from Johnson to extend their lead back to 11 points at 28-17 at the end of the quarter.

In the second quarter, Livingstone again cut the Panther lead to six points (35-29) with 4:08 to go, but VUU went on a 12-3 run to boost their lead to 44-32 at the half.  During that stretch, Johnson scored nine points, including a three pointer to stake VUU to the halftime margin.

The third quarter started much of the same, with the Panthers able to extend their lead to 51-34 following a 10-2 run.  During that stretch of play, Johnson had the first two baskets followed by free throws from Ashley Smith and a three pointer from deep in the corner by Rahni Bell.

The Panther lead was further extended to 64-47 by the end of the third quarter and Livingstone never seriously threatened again, as Virginia Union coasted the rest of the way, leading by as many as 33 points in the fourth quarter, advancing to the finals for the fourth time in program history.

In addition to Johnson's 41 points, the Panthers got 22 points from Ashley Smith, who finished a perfect 3-for-3 from behind the arc. Rahni Bell also scored 15 while hitting five three pointers.  As a team, VUU knocked down 13-of-24 from distance, good for 54.2%.

Livingstone (15-12) had four players score in double figures, with Brittany Taylor leading the way with 18.  Amber Curtis knocked down 13 points while Alexis Fowler and Kyala Searcy had 12 and 10 points, respectively.