Michelle Fitzgerald (Baltimore, Md./Md. Academy of Tech & Health Science (N.C. A & T)) recorded her second consecutive double-double with a career-high 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Lincoln University women's basketball team won their second consecutive game, defeating Elizabeth City State University 82-70 Saturday afternoon at Manuel Rivero Hall.

Prior to the game the Lincoln Athletic Department honored the eight seniors on this year's women's basketball squad: Shecquan Bailey (Salisbury, Md./Snow Hill (Baltimore City C.C.)), Fitzgerald, Diamond Mickle (Fredericksburg, Va./Paul VI Catholic (Harford CC)), Brianna Logan (Lumberton, N.J./Rancocas Valley (Siena)), Lyric Artis (Selkirk, N.Y./Shaker (C.C. of Rhode Island)), Teira Pendleton (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Polytech), Ashley Paynes-Hightower (Peoria, Ill./Peoria (Harford C.C.)) and Amanda Okodugha (Norrkoping, Sweden /Hagagymnasiet (Young Harris)).

The Lions improve to 15-7 overall and 9-4 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association games. Elizabeth City fell to 9-15 overall and 2-10 in CIAA contests

Fitzgerald's 25 points led all scorers.  The senior forward tied a single game school record for free throw percentage with a perfect 10-10 from the free throw line while shooting 7-of-15 from the field. Fitzgerald's double-double was her seventh of the season.  Bailey added 11 points and dished out a career high seven assists while Pendleton chipped in ten points and moved into fourth place on the Lions all-time scoring list with 1,071 for her career.  Logan had a game high four steals to go along with six points and six assists.

Devona Stell led the Vikings with 24 points while Tamara Harvey came off the bench to contribute 17. Alexis Fowler had 11 points, 14 rebounds and six assists while D'Aysa Wilson chipped in ten points/

The Vikings scored the first four points before Mickle put Lincoln on the board with a pair of free throws.  The Lions followed with a 18-4 uprising to take control of the game with a double-digit lead 20-8 with 2:08 left with Fitzgerald making up the bulk of the scoring with 14 of the 18 points. The senior forward's traditional three-point play with 1:04 left in the period gave her 17 points for the quarter and a 17-point lead for the Lions 27-10.  ECSU scored the final three points of the period to make the score 27-13. 

The Lions extended the lead to 20 points three minutes into the second quarter following two straight baskets from Paynes-Hightower.   The Vikings cut the lead in half with a 10-0 flourish late in the quarter before a three-pointer from Bailey and a traditional three point play from Okodugha pushed the Lions lead back to 16 by the half, 47-31.

Lincoln maintained a double digit lead throughout the third quarter and opened the fourth stanza with a 12-point advantage.  Harvey sank a three-ball to open the scoring for the Vikings, cutting the Lions lead to nine.  Five straight LU points pushed the lead back to 14 as the lead then oscillated between ten and 14 points over the next five minutes.   Fitzgerald's two free throws put the Lions up by 12, 69-57 with 2:52 left when the Vikings used a 6-1 run to close the gap to seven 70-63 with 1:06 to go.  Layups from Shahra Madison (Chesapeake, Va./Norfolk Collegiate School (Chesapeake College)) and Pendleton jumped the lead back to 11 and the margin stayed in double figures the rest of the way as the Lions were a perfect 8-8 from the free throw line over the final 34 seconds.

The Lions turned in a dominant effort at the free throw line, connecting on 25 of 30 (83.3%) while ECSU made just 11 of 22 (50%).  Lincoln's defense forced 26 ECSU turnovers, leading to 22 points while the Lions themselves committed just 13 miscues. The Vikings  did out rebound the Lions 51-44.  For the game Lincoln shot 26-75 (34.7%) from the field while ECSU made 27 of 64 shots (42.2%)

The women's basketball team will play their final home game of the season on Wednesday, February 14, 2018 when they host Bloomfield College in a non-conference tilt at Manuel rivero Hall.  Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m