Box Score BOWIE, Md. – Mfon Ekanem (Springdale, Md./C.H. Flowers HS) stepped up to the free-throw line with 13 seconds left and sank one of two from the charity stripe as the Lincoln University women's basketball team rallied to defeat Bowie State, 61-60, on Saturday afternoon in the CIAA Northern Division opener at A.C. Jordan Arena.
 
“This was a hostile environment playing in front of the fans at Bowie,” Lincoln head coach Jessica Kern said. “Getting the win was important on so many levels, but it shows that Lincoln has arrived.”
 
With the game tied at 60, Ekanem hit the first of two shots at the foul line to give Lincoln a 61-60 lead. Her second shot hit the front iron and was rebounded by Sandra Davis. However, Bowie State couldn't get off a shot as the Lady Lions got the win.
 
“I told the girls that everybody has to get back and defend,” Kern said. “It is encouraging to get the win. Mfon was the hero today.”
 
Tahlar McIntosh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Alvernia HS) tied her career-high with 21 points, including going 9-of-14 from the foul line. Cynthia Johnson (Baltimore, MD/Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) had 17 points, seven rebounds, three steals and three assists. Ekanem finished with six points, including 4-of-6 from the foul line (a career high) and pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds as the Lady Lions (7-10 overall, 3-4 CIAA, 1-0 CIAA North) were 17-of-53 from the field for 32 percent.
 
The Lady Bulldogs (4-11, 1-6, 0-1) broke open a close game with an 8-1 run, capped by a Jasmine McIntosh 3-pointer with 3:35 remaining in the first half. Lincoln got a flurry of buckets by Johnson, Courtney Smith (Milwaukee, WI/Nicolet HS) and Tahlar McIntosh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Alvernia HS) during the final three minutes as the Lady Lions closed out the first half on a 16-5 run to take a 33-30 advantage into the break.
 
Lincoln opened the second half strong and used a 12-2 run to take a 45-32 advantage after a Tahlar McIntosh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Alvernia HS) 3-pointer with 15:35 remaining. Bowie State slowly responded and used a 14-1 run during the next seven minutes to tie the game at 46 after a Channell Mackey bucket with 8:48 left.
 
The Lady Bulldogs grabbed a 56-51 lead after a Kammera Johnson layup with 4:12 remaining, but the Lady Lions battled back and tied the contest at 60 after a pair of Tahlar McIntosh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Alvernia HS) free throws with 34 seconds left.
 
After a missed Bowie State shot, Ekanem was fouled with 13 seconds left, setting the stage for the late-game heroics.
 
Jasmine McIntosh paced the Lady Bulldogs with 15 points, while Brooke Miles had nine points and Jasmine Jacobs recorded eight points and nine rebounds as Bowie State shot 33 percent (22-of-66) from the floor.
 
The Lady Lions return home after a four-game road trip as Lincoln takes on Elizabeth City State in a CIAA Northern Division contest at 5:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at Manuel Rivero Gymnasium. To follow the action through live stats, click here.
 
Lady Lions Notebook: Tahlar McIntosh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Alvernia HS) has reached double figures in scoring 10 of the last 11 games and has scored more than nine points in 14 games this season…Cynthia Johnson (Baltimore, MD/Baltimore Polytechnic Institute) has scored in double figures in 11 of the 17 games played this season…With the win, Lincoln snaps a 17-game losing streak against Bowie State…The win also marks the first in the series for Jessica Kern…Lincoln matches its win total of the 2011-2012 season…There eight ties and seven lead changes…The Lady Lions were 22-of-36 from the free-throw line…Lincoln finished with 49 rebounds, six steals, six assists and five blocked shots.