Box Score The season is over for the Lady Lions of Lincoln. They lost to Livingstone University in the quarterfinals of the CIAA Championships 45-50. The team entered the tournament as the 3^rd seed from the north and looked to make another run for the finals. The Lions defeated Saint Augustine University in the first round in a tightly fought battle that came down to the last 2 minutes of the game. Against Livingstone the scenario was the same, unfortunately the outcome was different.
The first quarter saw the Lions off to a quick start. A pair of inside the paint jump shots by sophomore Teira Pendleton (Baltimore, MD/Baltimore Poly Institute) who scored 9 points and timely layups by Amani Clark (Middletown, DE/Appoquinimink HS) who led the team with 11 gave the Lions a lead as high as 9 points. The quarter ended with them ahead 14-9. The second quarter saw the Blue Bears stage a comeback and take the lead by 1 point going into half-time as the Lions struggled to find their offense scoring only 10 points.
The second half began and the Lions found their stride with a pair of three point baskets by seniors Cortney Smith and Lisa Saunders (Hampton, VA/Hampton HS). They opened the floor and allowed junior forward  De'jah Taylor (Nanuet, NY/Paramus Catholic Regional) to get inside for crucial buckets that gave the team a 40-37 lead going into the last quarter. The 4^th quarter began and the Lions got off to a quick start with forced turnovers that lead to pair of breakaway layups by Amani Clark (Middletown, DE/Appoquinimink HS). The Lions had a five point lead half way through the quarter. The momentum however was short lived as the Blue Bears led by Amber Curtis who scored 16 hit a couple of jump shots. The Blue Bears took the lead and went up by 4 points. The Lions were only able to produce one more point on a free throw by De'jah Taylor (Nanuet, NY/Paramus Catholic Regional). The five points in the quarter was the lowest point total for the Lions this year and was not enough to extend the season. The Lions were unable to overcome the height advantage held by the Blue Bears and were outrebounded 59-42. Second chance points proved to be the difference.
The Lions end the season with a 14-12 record. Thank you Lady Lions for an exciting season that saw victories over nationally ranked teams West Chest University and Virginia Union as well as one of the most exciting double overtime victories in the history of Manuel Rivero Hall seniors night.
The first season for Coach Darrel Mosley did not end as he would have liked, but the team fought hard all year and made the Lincoln faithful proud. The returning student athletes on the team will no doubt grow from this experience and be ready the next they hear the whistle blow and someone say, game-time is…..Thank you to seniors Amani Clark (Middletown, DE/Appoquinimink HS), Courtney Smith (Milwaukee, WI/Nicolet HS), Mieana Gaines (Lincoln Park, MI/Southfield University Academy), LenNee Kimbell (Springdale, MD/Howard Community College) and Lisa Saunders (Hampton, VA/Hampton HS) for your contributions to Lincoln Athletics.