Four Players Reach Double Figures as Lincoln Lions Win for Eighth Time in Nine Games

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pennsylvania -- The Lincoln university women's basketball team placed four players in double figures as they won for the eighth time in nine games, defeating St. Augustine's University 72-61 Saturday afternoon at Manuel Rivero Hall.

The win was also the Lions fourth straight as they improve to 9-4 overall and 4-1 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) games. Lincoln also remains perfect at home with a 6-0 record. The Falcons fall to 4-10 overall and 1-4 in league play.

McKenzie Spencer (Richmond, Va./Henrico) came off the bench to score a team-high 14 points while grabbing a career-high seven rebounds. Shahra Madison (Chesapeke, Va./Norfolk Collegiate School (Chesapeke College)) recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 11 points (5-7 FG) and 11 rebounds. Michelle Fitzgerald (Baltimore, Md./Md. Academy of Tech & Health Science (N.C. A & T)) added 13 points and eight rebounds while Teira Pendleton (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytech) chipped in 11 points. Brianna Logan (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley (Siena)) led Lincoln with five assists.

Kaaliya Williams led the Falcons with 19 points and nine rebounds. Angela Caraballo added ten points.

Three ties and three lead changes highlighted the first quarter before the Lions took control, scoring the final six points of the period to take a 15-9 lead. Lincoln extended the run into the second quarter with an 11-6 flourish to take their biggest lead of the first half at 26-15 before settling in for a nine point lead at the break, 31-22.

The Lions still led by nine midway through the third quarter when they started to pull away, producing a 13-4 run over a three minute span to take their biggest lead of the game at 52-34. Shecquan Bailey (Salisbury, Md./Snow Hill (Baltimore City C.C.)) scored all seven of her points during this stretch and DeeDee Irwin (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area) capped the run with a three-point goal from the baseline. Carabello then provided a spark for the Falcons in the final 2:10 of the quarter, scoring seven straight points as the Falcons cut the lead to 11, 52-41 by quarter's end.

Caraballo made it ten straight points with a three-pointer to open the fourth quarter and Nikiya Murphy added a jumper to pull the Falcons within six 52-46 just 54 seconds into the final period. Spencer and Fitzgerald then triggered a 9-0 Lincoln run with back-to-back three-balls to boost the Lions lead back to double figures at 61-46. The Falcons would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way and LU's Taylor King (Lorton, Va./Hayfield Secondary) closed out the Lions' scoring with five free throws in the final minute, giving the Lions the 11-point win.

Both teams struggled to make baskets with the Falcons holding a slight advantage 33.8% (23-68) to 33.3% (20-60). Both teams took 21 shots from beyond the arc with the Lions having the better showing, making nine three-pointers to SAU's four. Lincoln also had a huge advantage in the rebounding department, 62-35. LU's 62 rebounds are the most in game since grabbing 63 against Morgan State in 2013. Both teams also struggled with their ball control with the Lions committing 27 turnovers and the Falcons 20.

BOX SCORE

The women's basketball team returns to action on Monday, January 8, 2018 when the host Shaw University in a CIAA crossover contest. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.

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