Friday, February 27, 2015

Lincoln edges out victory, faces tough Virginia State

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Playing for the CIAA women's title means a chance at school history for Lincoln (Pa.).

The Lions, who returned to the league in 2010, turned back Livingstone 57-55 on Friday in the semifinals at Time Warner Cable Arena to earn a berth opposite Virginia State, which knocked off Shaw 69-47. Lincoln and Virginia State shared the North Division championship and split the regular season series.

"It means the world to us right now," said Lions center Mieana Gaines. "Three or four years ago, nobody even believed in Lincoln. Right now, we're just living in the moment."

Lincoln (21-7, North No. 1 seed) needed a couple of clutch plays by guard Amani Clark in the final seconds to put Livingstone away. Clark hit a layup with 20.7 seconds left and a steal on the Blue Bears' final possession to preserve the win.

Livingstone (26-2), which was the South's third seed after self-reporting an ineligible player, trailed by as many as 10 points early, but scratched its way to a 55-55 draw on Precious Roberts' basket with under a minute to play.

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