Box Score
PHILADELPHIA Pa. — Aggressive play, lock-down defense, and timely shooting enabled the Lincoln women to defeat Cheyney, 62-52, at the Liacouras Center Sunday afternoon.
This victory was elusive in every sense. It was Lincoln's first victory over Cheyney since Martin Luther King Day in 2001, and most importantly, it got LU a win in the doubleheader header format of the HBCU Classic, its first in 19 attempts.
It also bumped the Lady Lions' record to 3-16, improving on last year's win total of just two, showing that the team is headed in the right direction as it adjusts to Division II play.
Overall, Lincoln had five players in double figures led by DeJuana Mosley (Chester, PA/Chester)'s (Chester, Pa./Chester) 12 points, but following a game she equated to a championship, she said the freshmen made all the difference, specifically Ivana Whitfield (Windsor, CT/Metropolitican LC) (Windsor, Conn./Metropolitan LC) and Mfon Ekanem (Springdale, Md./C.H Flowers HS) (Springdale, Md./Charles H. Flowers). Whitfield had her first game in double figures with 11 points along with five rebounds. Ekanem shut down the Lady Wolves' interior game with a monstrous 12 rebounds and six blocks.
Tahlar McIntosh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Alvernia HS) (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Alvernia) was also in double digits with 10 points and five rebounds. Sasha Evans (Hampton, VA/Phoebus) (Hampton, Va./Phoebus) had 10 points. Lincoln's lone senior Chanelle Harris (Philadelphia, PA/Penn Wood) (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Wood) had six points and the game-clinching lay-up off a steal and may have felt the most satisfaction of any player in the orange and blue.
LU dictated pace early, leading, 7-2, following a turnaround jumper by Mosley just three minutes into the game and an Evans three gave LU a comfortable 10-3 advantage.
Mosley picked off an inbounds pass and drove the length of the court for Lincoln a 13-7, forcing a Cheyney timeout less than eight minutes into the affair.
Cheyney, though, recovered and took the lead at 15-13 midway through the period when Lutfiyya Muhammad broke the tie with a jumper.
LU did not wither in its biggest game of the year. Trailing 26-22, LU evened it deficit thanks to baskets by Danielle Smallwood (Philadelphia, PA/West Catholic) (Philadelphia, Pa./West Catholic) and Whitfield.
LU retook the lead with less than a minute to go when Mosley came up with one of her four steals and found Harris in transition for a 29-28 lead heading into halftime.
Cheyney's Stephanie Orji scored the opening points of the second half, enabling CU to retake the lead, but Evans countered quickly. Sharay DuBose (Salisbury, Md./Parkside) extended the lead to three with a 15-footer off the left wing for a pair of her 10 points.
Showing signs of frustration, Cheyney's Angel Henderson picked up a technical on the offensive end. The chattiness with the referees cost the Lady Wolves, as McIntosh hit both free throws for a 39-35 LU advantage.
McIntosh gave Lincoln a 10-point lead when she hit consecutive three-point bombs for 45-35 with 12:00 remaining. On the next offensive possession, LU's Whitfield pulled down the offensive board and knocked down the put-back high off the glass for a 12-point lead.
The lead swelled to 16 when DuBose picked off an entry pass and found Evans streaking down the court for the lay-in, 51-35 LU as part of a 16-0 run.
Cheyney cut it down to 56-51, but Evans made both free throws, and Harris converted a transition layup off a steal for a 60-51 lead with less than a minute to go.
The ladies have some time to savor the victory before hosting Virginia State Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The game can be heard live on BrandywineRadio.com.
— LU —
