Charlotte, N.C. (Feb. 22, 2017 ) –  Fifth-seeded Lincoln University came back from  as many as 15-points down and took a thrilling 73-71 upset win over top-seeded Chowan University in the quarterfinals of the 2017 CIAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Bojangles Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon.

Lincoln's She'cquan Bailey (Denton, Md/Baltimore City CC) secured a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds on the afternoon to go along with five assists.  Teammate Teira Pendleton (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytech) had a game-high 20 points while Kholby Oliver (Bowie, Md./Tallahassee Community College) had 14. Lincoln shot 47.4% from the field, including 60% in the fourth quarter to improve to 9-19 on the year.

The  Lions started hot, bolting to a 10-0 lead to start the game. In that span,  Pendleton  and  Bailey  each converted two free throws to go along with baskets by Ashley Paynes-Hightower (Peoria, Ill./Harford Community College)  and Monique Cheek (Teaneck, NJ/Harford Community College).  Chowan would fight back to close the gap to 14-12 following a Courtni Williams jumper with 4:15 left. 

Lincoln would boost their lead back to six points (21-15) at the 1:42 mark on another Pendleton jumper and Chowan's Jordan Payne would score with four seconds remaining to make it 22-18 at the end of the first.

Chowan then went to work in the second quarter. Down 25-24 at the 7:40 mark, they embarked on a 16-3 run, limiting the Lions to only two field goals in the quarter. In the Hawk run, Danielle Weldon  and Shaikeyla Jordan  scored back-to-back baskets. Chowan then forced the issue inside and drew multiple fouls. Jordan Payne  would go 4-of-4 from the stripe and Williams would hit 3-of-4 from the line to put CU up 38-25. Chowan would close the half on a Jordan Pettaway  jumper and Lincoln's McKenzie Spencer (Richmond, Va./Henrico) responded with a three-pointer to end the second quarter scoring with Chowan lead 40-28 at halftime.

Chowan's lead would evaporate in the third quarter, as Lincoln came alive after falling down by 13 points (43-30) Lincoln went on a 14-5 run to close to 48-44 at the 3:43 mark after a Pendleton jumper. De'jah Taylor (Nanuet, NY/Paramus Catholic Regional) connected to draw within 52-49. After a Chowan miss, the lead dwindled to 52-51 after Oliver scored with 2:13 left.  Chowan would then get three free throws down the stretch to take the 55-52 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, after falling down by eight (60-52) Lincoln mounted yet another comeback, chipping away at the Hawk lead and drew to within 63-61 as Bailey connected on a jumper while falling down. The Lions then trimmed it to 65-64 after a layup from Oliver, who was fouled on the play. Her free throw at 4:08 made it 65-64 and after a Chowan turnover, Lincoln took the 66-65 lead on a breakaway basket by Pendleton with 3:53 to play.

The teams traded baskets on each of their next possessions and Lincoln's Taylor connected on an 18-footer to surge the Lions ahead 70-67, forcing a Chowan timeout with 2:33 to play.

After a Lincoln miss, Chowan cut into the Lincoln lead after a Chantel Roberts jumper and regained the 71-70 lead on a Jada Lee steal and layup at the 1:13 mark.

Lincoln's Bailey calmly took things into her own hands, driving and dropping in the go-ahead layup with 1:00 to play. Lincoln then forced a Chowan turnover and after calling their final timeout with 46.4 to play. Chowan played good defense on the possession, and rebounded a missed shot that was blocked by Payne. Lincoln then returned the favor, as Taylor blocked Chowan's shot attempt and Pendleton secured the rebound with 4.2 second to play.

After a Chowan foul, Pendleton hit 1-of-2 free throws to go ahead 73-71. Chowan then had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Jordan's three-pointer at the buzzer was strong, as Lincoln upset Chowan, 73-71.

Chowan (17-8) got 16 points from Courtni Williams and Jordan Payne posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Rounding out double-figure scoring for the Hawks was Dhyamond Crenshaw as she had 10 points.

Lincoln advances to take on Northern Division No. 3 seed Virginia State on Friday, Feb. 24 in the semifinals at the Spectrum Center at 1:00 p.m.