Box Score

TAKOMA PARK, Md. (January 4, 2011) – The night was memorable for everybody on so many levels.

Backed by a slew of players with career highs, the Lincoln University women's basketball team earned a breakout first win of the season, defeating Washington Adventist, 78-51, Tuesday night.

Brittney Waters (Capitol Heights, Md./Charles H. Flowers) (17 points), Tahlar McIntosh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Alvernia HS) (15) and Cynthia Johnson (Randallstown, MD/Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) (14) each set new individual marks. McIntosh's 10 rebounds also netted her first double-double as Lincoln dominated the glass, 57-31. Sophomore Patrice Ferguson (Mitchellville, MD/Charles H. Flowers) equaled McIntosh with 10 boards, tops in her young career.

Kisha Middleton made a statement in her head coaching debut. After 6.5 years as an assistant, she led the Lady Lions to their first victory of more than 15 points since the season opener of the 2008-09 season against Briarcliffe College, a game won by Lincoln, 69-53.

“This was a must-win game,” Middleton said. “It was very important to begin the second half of the season with the win.”

The Lady Lions (1-6) opened with the game's first 10 points. Lock-down defense and dominance under the offense glass provided the impetus to the run. In all, Lincoln had three stretches of at least 10-straight points.

“With God, all things are possible,” McIntosh said. “We pressured them and we hit our shots. It feels amazing.”

Perhaps nothing illustrated the grittiness more than the Lady Lions' first possession. Sasha Evans (Hampton, VA/Phoebus) opened the game with a trey 40 seconds in after Lincoln had corralled three offensive rebounds. She finished with eight points, her highest output of 2010-11.

Sharay DuBose (Salisbury, Md./Parkside HS) followed with another trey on LU's next possession following a Washington Adventist turnover. In all, Lincoln staked to a 10-0 edge early capped by a Waters lay-in on a breakaway with the assist from Evans, prompting a Washington Adventist timeout 2:34 into the game.

Margaret Douglas finally got the Lady Shock its first basket nearly four minutes in on a contested jumper off the right wing.

Another 11-0 run midway through the half stretched the lead to 27-6 with 8:00 minutes to go in the opening period. At this point, though, the sloppiness permeated to the Lincoln offense. Turnovers enabled Washington Adventist to crawl back in it as a surge brought the Lady Shock to within 38-26 at the intermission.

Lincoln forced 18 turnovers and collected an impressive 12 offensive rebounds, leading to seven second-chance points. In all, LU led 25-14 on the glass in the first half. The attack was remarkably balanced with McIntosh, Evans and Danielle Smallwood (Philadelphia, PA/West Catholic) scoring six points apiece with eight Lady Lions tallying points.

However, Lincoln turned the ball over 16 times, the bulk of the damage coming in the final seven minutes.

The second half ended where the first let off, with Washington Adventist surging. Twin Nalweyiso made the lay-up and was fouled to begin scoring in the second half, bringing WAU back to within 10 for the first time since early in the first half. She missed the foul shot, and this was as close as the home team would get.

Senior guard DeJuana Mosley (Chester, PA/Chester) responded with a tough basket in the paint despite being fouled. She made her free throw to bring the lead back to 13 at 41-28.

The lead grew back to 20 on a drive by Waters for a 56-36 advantage with 10:55 to go through pressure defense and dominance inside. LU had just 10 turnovers in the second half while WAU had 15. LU would go up as much as 30 when Evans hit a foul shot with 1:55 left.

Up Next

The win caps the end of the non-conference schedule and brings much-needed momentum. Saint Augustine's College (6-4) comes to Manuel Rivero Hall on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to begin the conference slate.

—LU—