Box Score LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – The Lincoln University women's basketball team used a strong second half in pulling away from Bowie State during Winter Homecoming, 65-50, on Saturday afternoon at Manuel Rivero Gymnasium.
 
“Our theme for this game was waiting to exhale,” Lincoln head coach Jessica Kern said.
 
Courtney Smith (Milwaukee, WI/Nicolet HS) was perfect on the day to lead Lincoln with 13 points. The freshman guard was 3-for-3 from the field, including 3-for-3 from behind the 3-point line and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, while also adding five rebounds. Tahlar McIntosh (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mt. Alvernia HS) finished with 11 points and five boards, while Courtney Lucas (Washington, DC/Friendship Collegiate Academy) added nine points and five rebounds as the Lady Lions shot 27 percent (16-of-59) from the field.
 
“This was a game to redeem ourselves,” Smith said. “After suffering losses on the road, we wanted to come out and play good in front of our fans.”
 
The Lady Lions (8-14 overall, 4-8 CIAA, 2-4 CIAA North), who have surpassed last season's win total, made a living at the free-throw line, scoring 30-of-65 points from the charity stripe. On the afternoon, Lincoln was 30-of-50 from the line.
 
“It's been our Achilles heel,” Kern said. “The good news is that we got to the foul line 50 times, but the bad is that we missed 20 from the charity stripe. We've got to do a better job of making those shots.”
 
Bowie State (6-13, 3-9, 2-4) led 18-16 after an Alessandra Flores jumper with 9:07 remaining, but Lincoln closed the half strong and out-scored the Lady Bulldogs, 15-11, to take a 31-29 advantage into the break.
 
In the second half, the Lady Lions never let the lead slip away, extended a two-point halftime lead to 13 points, 61-48, after a three-point play by Zephrah Pam (Syracuse, NY/Monroe CC), with 2:43 left as the Lady Bulldogs never recovered.
 
Bria Robinson paced Bowie State with 13 points, nine boards and four assists. Jasmine Jacobs added 10 points as the Lady Bulldogs were 14-of-53 shooting for 26 percent.
 
The Lady Lions hit the road one last time during the regular season as Lincoln travels to Elizabeth City, N.C., to meet Elizabeth City State in a CIAA Northern Division contest. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13, from the R.L. Vaughn Center.
 
Lady Lions Notebook: Lincoln completes the season 3-0 vs. rivals Cheyney and Bowie State for the first time since becoming a member of NCAA Division II…After suffering a 17-game losing streak in the series, Lincoln has now won two consecutive games over the Lady Bulldogs…The Lady Lions finished the day with 51 rebounds, including 29 on the defensive glass…Lincoln registered nine steals, seven assists and a pair of blocked shots…The Lady Lions led the way in points in the paint, 24-20, and bench points, 21-7.