CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Lincoln University's cinderella story has ended as Virginia State University used a 12-4 run in the final five minutes to lift the Trojans to a 59-51 at the Spectrum Center on Friday, ending the Lions storybook run at the CIAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
The Lions end their season at 9-20. After a one-year absence, Virginia State is back in the women's championship game of the CIAA Tournament. The Trojans (22-7 overall), the No. 3 Northern Division seed, will vie for their second CIAA title in three years on Saturday against the Virginia Union-Johnson C. Smith winner at 4 p.m.
Teira Pendleton (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytech) scored 16 points and
Monique Cheek (Teaneck, NJ/Harford Community College) added 12 points for the Lions, who shot 40.4 percent. They were the No. 5 seed in the Northern Division.
Cheek scored eight points in the first two quarters as the Lions ended the half with eight consecutive points for a 31-24 halftime lead. Pendleton scored six points for the Lions, who shot 47.8 percent from the floor and made 8 of 10 free throw attempts for 80 percent in the first half. The Lions relied on its depth to build their seven-point lead as they outscored the Trojans 11-5 in bench points.
In the second half, Endia McKinney, who totaled 12 points and 10 rebounds, provide the clutch shot during the Trojans game-winning run. Her three-pointer turned a one-point lead to four at 55-51 with 33 seconds left. Taylor Daniels and Dominique Hagins each added two free throws for the final margin as the Lions failed to score after McKinney's game-deciding three-pointer.
Daniels tallied 17 points and 14 rebounds as two Trojans produced double-doubles. In addition to McKinney's double-double, Joy Hickman added 13 points. Nandi Taylor had six points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals for the Trojans, who shot 32.8 percent.
Though their halftime lead disappeared, the Lions regained the lead 47-44 in the fourth thanks to
Teira Pendleton (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytech), who drained a three-pointer and two free throws. But Pendleton turned her ankle in the period which was a blow to the Lions.
Head Coach
Darrell Mosley acknowledged that Pendleton's injury affected the Lions but said rebounding decided the outcome. The Trojans won the battle on the offensive glass 17-1 and outscored the Lions 11-0 in second chance points in the second half.
"This one hurts, especially going into the second half with the lead," Mosley said. "When you are playing from behind and giving up offensive rebounds, it is hard to get back in the game."
