Box Score On the heels of their first ever regional ranking, the Lincoln University women's basketball team found themselves on the short end of a 16-point halftime deficit which expanded to 19 in the opening minutes of the second half against Winston Salem State University. Not to be deterred, the Lions locked down on defense and rallied from the deficit to defeat the Rams 77-67 before a raucous crowd at the Gaines Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

The Lions improve to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in league play. The Rams fall to 3-4 overall and 0-2 in league play. Lincoln's 7-1 start is their best ever in program history.

Kwanza Murray (Summerville, S.C./Summerville (Lackawanna College)) scored 21 of her team-high 23 points in the second half while Kenzie Spencer (Richmond, Va./Henrico) came off the bench to add a season-high 19 points.  DeAshia Young (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Public Safety Academy (Labette CC)) added 16 points (12 from the free throw line).  Alisia Machado (Brooklyn, N.Y./Medgar Evars Prep (Grambling)) was the force on defense for the second straight game, grabbing a game high 12 rebounds, 11 of them on the defensive end and six in the third quarter, providing a catalyst for the Lions third quarter comeback.  Young, the CIAA leader in total assists added six more to her season total. Bryanna Brown (New York, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin (Nyack)), Joy Morton (Lansdowne, Pa./Penn Wood (Harford C.C.)) and Young added five rebounds apiece.

Brandi Segars led the Rams with 19 points and her two free throws put the Rams ahead by 19 with 8:20 left in the third quarter.  Lincoln's defense then went into lockdown mode as the Rams did not make another field goal for the rest of the period, missing 15 straight shots as Lincoln began to whittle away at the lead.

Young started the rally and Murray followed with a traditional three-point play and then a three-point field goal to cut the deficit to 11.  Young's two free throws at the 4:55 mark cut the lead to single digits before baskets by Murray and Skydajah Patterson (Bronx, N.Y./) pulled the Lions within five 48-43.  Murray had a steal on WSSU's next possession which turned into her second three-point play of the quarter and cut the lead to two 48-46.  She later tied the game with a free throw with 52 seconds left.  After a Ram free throw, Spencer game the Lions their first lead of the game 51-49 with 35 seconds left in the quarter. Young added a free throw before the quarter ended and the Lions had a 25-1 run.

Patterson's layup to open the fourth quarter made it a 27-1 run and a 54-49 Lincoln lead.  The Rams countered with an 8-1 spurt to retake the lead at 57-55.  Spencer answered with another three-ball and the Lions again held the advantage.  Murray followed with another three and the Lions were back up by four 61-57.  Shantel Cheeks (Washington D.C./Rock Creek Christian Academy (Harcum College)) reverse layup with 2:50 left pushed the lead to six 69-63.  Her layup was the last basket of the game for the Lions as finished the game making all eight of their free throws and extended their lead to ten by game's end.

The Lions held the Rams to just four field goals in the second half (4-31, 12.9%) and 29.2% (19-65) for the game.  Lincoln made 15 of 22 shots in the second half (68.2%) and finished the game shooting 45.3% (24-53).  The Lions outrebounded the Rams 45-37 (25-13 in the second half).

The women's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, December 7, 2019 when play at Livingstone College.  Tipoff at 2 p.m.