The Lincoln University women's basketball team rallied from a five-point deficit in the final 30 seconds to force overtime before falling at Shepherd University 77-72 at the Butcher Center in Sheprherdstown, West Virginia Thursday evening.
 
Lincoln falls to 3-1 on the season while Shepherd improves to 3-0.
 
DeAsia Young led all scorers with 30 points (9-15 FG, 12-16 FT) while Kwanza Murray (Summerville, S.C./Summerville (Lackawanna College)) added 20 (8-16 FG, 4-9 3FG).  Alisia Machado (Brooklyn, N.Y./Medgar Evars Prep (Grambling)) grabbed 14 rebounds.  Young also had three assists and three steals.
 
Trailing by five with 22 seconds left in regulation, the Lions got a three point basket from Bryanna Brown (New York, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin (Nyack)) to close within two, 59-57 and another three-point bucket from Murray following a  pair of Shepherd free throws to make it a one point game 61-60 with seven seconds left.  The Rams then made one of two free throws before Young hit the game tying basket, knotting the score at 62-62 with four seconds left and sending the game into overtime.
 
Shepherd's Marley McLaughlin's three-point play with seven seconds left in overtime broke a 72-72 tie and the Rams added two free throws in the final seconds to round out the scoring and come away with the win.
Lincoln built a 31-26 lead at halftime and had led by as many as 14 in the third quarter before the Rams exploded with a 13-2 run to close out the period and close within three 42-39.  Shepherd continued their run with a 7-2 spurt to open the fourth quarter, taking a 46-44 lead with 6:36 left and built their lead to five before the Lions rallied to force overtime.
 
Abby Beeman led the Rams with 29 points and McLaughlin added 14 points.  Sydney Clayton had a double-double with 13 points and ten rebounds. 
 
The women's basketball team returns to action on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 when they travel to face west Chester University.  Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.