Four players scored in double figures for the Lincoln University women's basketball team Tuesday night against University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown but the Lions struggled offensively in the fourth quarter as the Mountain Cats pulled away and handed the Lions their second straight 73-62 at the Sports Center in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
 
Lincoln falls to 1-3 with the loss while the Mountain Cats improve to 4-2.
 
Teira Pendleton (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytech) and Michelle Fitzgerald (Baltimore, Md./Md. Academy of Tech & Health Science (N.C. A & T)) led the Lions with 15 points apiece.  Amanda Okodugha (Norrkoping, Sweden /Hagagymnasiet (Young Harris)) added 11 points while Brianna Logan (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley (Siena)) chipped in ten points and dished out a game-high six assists.  Shahra Madison (Chesapeke, Va./Norfolk Collegiate School (Chesapeke College)) had nine rebounds coming off the bench to lead the Lions while McKenzie Spencer (Richmond, Va./Henrico) had four steals
 
Gabrielle Smith led the Mountain Cats with a game-high 22 points.  Oliva McCabe added 15 points and 16 rebounds while Laurel O'Barto chipped in 12 points.
 
Lincoln stayed close throughout the first three quarters, never letting the Mountain Cats pull away and keeping the UPJ lead to no than a two-possession differential.  In the fourth quarter however it was a different story as the Lions could not get their offense on track, going without a field goal for their first 11 possessions allowing the Mountain Cats to turn their four point lead into a seven point advantage.  Pendleton final got Lincoln's first basket of the quarter at the cutting the lead to four points.  UPJ then used a 9-2 run to push their lead to double figures at 69-58 with 1:22 left.  Lincoln would cut the gap to ten but would come no closer.  The Lions finished the quarter making just three field goals (20 attempts).
 
The Mountain Cats pushed their lead to four over the first five minutes of the third quarter, 45-41 and Lincoln followed with six straight points to take back the lead at 47-45, with four of the six points coming at the free throw line.  Alexis Hartwick followed with a three-pointer, starting a 9-3 run by the Mountain Cats to close out the quarter with a four point lead 54-50.
 
Fitzgerald and Shecquan Bailey (Salisbury, Md./Snow Hill (Baltimore City C.C.)) had back-to-back layups to open the second period, giving the Lions their largest lead of the night at 27-23.  The Mountain Cats came right back with an 11-4 flourish to take a three point lead with 3:44 left in the period.  Baskets by Diamond Mickle (Fredericksburg, Va./Paul VI Catholic (Harford CC)) and Logan followed and the lead changed hands for the 12^th time in the first two quarters as the Lions went up one 35-34.  UPJ's Alexis Harris put the Mountain Cats back on top 36-35 with 1:40 left in the period. The Lions had four chances to retake the lead before the half ended but were unable to convert and trailed by a point at the break.
 
The two teams opened with strong first quarter efforts with the Lions shooting 50% in the period and UPJ shooting 53%.  Neither team led by more than four points in the opening ten minutes of action and both teams combined for 46 points in the period, split ecvenly at 23-23.
 
Lincoln was outshot during the game 42.6% (26-61) to 30.3% (23-76).  UPJ sank six three point field goals to the Lions two while both teams were about even on the free throw line (LU 14-22; UPJ 15-25).  The Lions outrebounded the Mountain Cats 50-46 including a 25-16 advantage on the offensive glass. The advantage however did not translate into points as UPJ had a 23-13 lead in the second chance points category.  Lincoln committed four fewer turnover (18-22) and both teams finished with 12 assists.
 
The Lincoln Women's basketball team returns to action on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 as their open their home slate with a non conference game against Wilmington University.  Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.