Huge Second Half Propels Lincoln Over Dominican 81-72 in ECAC Semifinals

COURTESY THE LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

LOWER OXFORD, Pennsylvania -- Senior Zephrah Pam (Syracuse, NY/Monroe CC) led the Lady Lions to the ECAC Women's Basketball Championship game with 20 points and 20 rebounds off of the bench in a 81-72, victory over Dominican College on Saturday, March 14^th. Three other Lady Lions also reached double-figure scoring in the semifinals win.

LU's junior guard Courtney Smith (Milwaukee, WI/Nicolet HS) was 2-of-6 from behind the arc in the opening half leading the Lady Lions with ten points. The visiting Chargers got off to a fast start and led 8-2 early.  Their defense forced several LU turnovers aided by their defensive pressure. Smith got the Lady Lions rolling with her first three-pointer of the half. A pair of baskets made by Courtney Lucas (Washington, DC/Friendship Collegiate Academy) andTeira Pendleton (Baltimore, MD/Baltimore Poly Institute) brought the deficit to 10-9 at the 15:31 mark.

Dominican held on to a slim lead until the 3-minute mark when Pendleton made a pair of free-throws giving the Lady Lions their first lead of the afternoon, 28-27. The Chargers responded by taking a 35-33 halftime lead with converted free-throws in the final minute. Lincoln was held to 31 percent (10-of-32) shooting from the field while Dominican was 37 percent (11-of-29). The Chargers scored 13 points off of 11 LU turnovers and held a slight rebounding advantage 22-21.

After a sluggish start in the first half, Zephrah Pam (Syracuse, NY/Monroe CC) exploded for 18 points and 16 rebounds in the second half. Pam dominated the paint with ten offensive rebounds and scoring on 6-of-9 shots from the field. Lincoln improved their perimeter shooting to 50 percent and converted on 12-of-22 second half free-throws.

In the beginning of the half, the Lady Lions went on a 16-3 run pulling ahead of the Chargers 48-38. Amani Clark(Middletown, DE/Appoquinimink HS) added eight points while Pendleton had six points as Lincoln opened up a 17 point advantage with 9:09 left in regulation. Defensively, Mieana Gaines (Lincoln Park, MI/Southfield University Academy)recorded two blocks while Clark and Courtney Lucas (Washington, DC/Friendship Collegiate Academy) both had a pair of steals.

Lincoln powered their way to 48 second half points and into the ECAC Championship game against Bluefield State. The Lady Lions won 81-72 over Dominican.

Zephrah Pam (Syracuse, NY/Monroe CC) led the way with a team-high 20 points on 7-of-14 made shots off of the bench. Pam had 11 offensive rebounds with nine defensive boards while converting on 6-of-9 free-throws. Courtney Smith(Milwaukee, WI/Nicolet HS) finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Amani Clark (Middletown, DE/Appoquinimink HS) was a force defensively with six steals and had ten points. Teira Pendleton (Baltimore, MD/Baltimore Poly Institute) also scored ten points and had three assists.

Bluefield State defeated Le Moyne in the other semifinal game. Lincoln will play at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 15^th in the ECAC Women's Basketball Championship game.

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COURTESY THE LINCOLN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION