Hill's Sixth Double-Double Leads LU to 59-57 Win

ZURI HILL
COURTESY: LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma -- Zuri Hill recorded her sixth double-double of the season and grabbed three huge rebounds in the final two minutes to lead the Lincoln women's basketball team to a 59-57 win at Northeastern State on Saturday (Jan. 30).

The Blue Tigers led for nearly the entire game, including holding the RiverHawks to just seven second quarter points en route to a 28-22 halftime lead. Northeastern State mounted a big comeback in the fourth quarter, however, scoring the first seven points of the period to force a 46-46 tie.

Azaria Nave stopped the run with a three-pointer, and an old-fashioned three-point play by Asia McCaskill gave LU a 52-48 advantage. The RiverHawks used a layup and a trey on back-to-back possessions to take a one-point lead, however, and later entered the final two minutes of the contest with a 57-56 advantage.

After a missed jumper, NSU had the opportunity to add to its lead, but Hill grabbed a defensive rebound to give Lincoln another chance. The Blue Tigers missed a three-point shot, but Hill grabbed the rebound, her ninth offensive board of the contest, and sank a layup to but Lincoln back on top.

With 16 seconds remaining, the RiverHawks missed a shot on their end, and once again it was Hill coming down with the rebound. Forced to foul, Northeastern State sent Sarah Neptune to the line, who made one of her two free throws to give LU the two-point advantage. The RiverHawks were unable to get a shot off after that point, as Lincoln held on for its second road win in its past three tries.

Hill finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Lizzie Nessling was also close to a double-double, finishing with eight points and nine boards. Nave and Hunter Yoakum each scored 10 points, with Yoakum also grabbing three rebounds and dishing a pair of assists.

Neptune scored four points, pulled down three rebounds and led the Blue Tigers with six assists. McCaskill tallied six points, four boards and a pair of steals while Jasmine Guthrie came down with five rebounds to go with two points. Dorian Briggs rounded out the scoring for LU with a made three-pointer while also recording a pair of rebounds.

Lincoln improves to 8-13 overall and 4-11 in MIAA play with the win. Northeastern State, meanwhile, falls to 6-15 on the season and 3-12 in the conference.

The Blue Tigers, currently in the midst of a four-game road swing, will be in Maryville, Mo. next Thursday (Feb. 4) to play Northwest Missouri at 5:30 p.m. CST.

BOX SCORE

Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS