SALISBURY, NC (February 7, 2009) – The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania women's basketball team tried valiantly to overcome a 17-point second-half deficit, but it could not climb out of its hole as Livingstone hung on for a 71-65 victory Saturday night at Trent Gym. (BOXSCORE)
Lincoln freshman Sharay DuBose (Salisbury, Md./Parkside HS) scored 12 of her team-high 22 points in the first half. Also reaching double figures for Lincoln was senior Tanina Cook (Landover, MD/Charles H. Flowers), who finished with 11 points and freshman Britny Adams (Bloomingdale, MI/Bloomingdale) (11 points, three 3-pointers). Cook also hauled down 10 rebounds for her 12th career double-double. It was the second consecutive double-double for Cook, who reached double figures in scoring for the 39th time in her career.
Lincoln finished the game making 23-of-66 shots (34.8 percent). Livingstone, which got a team-high 16 points from Cassaundra Rhodes, made 43 percent of its baskets (26-of-60). Livingstone won the rebounding battle, 48-41. Thanks to efforts of Adams, Sasha Evans (Hampton, VA/Phoebus) and Alease Tabb (Brooklyn, NY/Middle College High School), Lincoln outscored Livingstone's bench, 23-21. The Lady Blue Bears connected on 15-of-35 from the foul line while Lincoln was 13-for-20.
Evans and Tabb turned in solid efforts by scoring six points each. She scored six straight points for Lincoln during its frantic second half rally. Her last basket with 2:56 remaining, trimmed Livingstone's advantage to 66-57.
In scoring 20 or more points in consecutive games for the first time this season, DuBose scored nine of Lincoln's first 11 points. DuBose, who has scored 20 or more points five times this season, scored a career-high 28 against Fayetteville State in Lincoln's last game. DuBose has scored at least 15 points in 20 of Lincoln's 22 games this year.
The Lady Blue Bears led, 36-23, at intermission. Lincoln made 8-of-27 (29.6 percent) of its shots in the opening 20 minutes. The Lady Lions also turned the ball over 18 times in the first half.
Livingstone had five players score at least five points in the first half. The Lady Blue Bears were 12-for-33 from the field and 9-for-19 from the foul line in the first half.
The combination of Cook and DuBose accounted for Lincoln's first 14 points. Cook scored the first basket of game for Lincoln. DuBose scored nine straight and Cook followed with a 3-pointer that pulled the Lady Lions to within, 21-14 with eight minutes, three seconds remaining in the opening half.
Livingstone raced to a 12-2 advantage four minutes into the game.
Lincoln will return to action Tuesday night when it hosts Elizabeth City State University at Manuel Rivero Hall beginning at 5:30 p.m. Livingstone's next game is also Tuesday at home against CIAA leading scorer Tatiana Ellis and Saint Paul's College at 5:30 p.m.
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