Lincoln University Athletics

Four players reached double figures as the Lincoln University women's basketball team won their sixth straight game, defeating Claflin University 81-54 Thursday night ast Manuel Rivero Hall.

The Lions improve to 9-1 on the season while Claflin falls to 0-8.  Lincoln is ranked #5 in the most recent D2SIDA Atlantic Region media poll and is receiving votes in the WBCA  Division II Top 25 National Poll (coaches poll)

 Kwanza Murray (Summerville, S.C./Summerville (Lackawanna College)) led the Lions, scoring 18 points in just 22 minutes of floor time.  The senior guard took just 13 shots, making eight of them (including two three-point field goals) and also recorded three steals.   Bryanna Brown (New York, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin (Nyack)) also had the hot hand shooting, making five of eight shots (3-4 from 3-point range) to finish with 16 points.  Brown also had five assists and a game-high four steals.    Joy Morton (Lansdowne, Pa./Penn Wood (Harford C.C.)) came off the bench to score 12 points (4-7 FG) while DeAshia Young (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Public Safety Academy (Labette CC)) chipped in ten (6-7 FT).  Young also led all players with seven assists.  Alisia Machado (Brooklyn, N.Y./Medgar Evars Prep (Grambling)) led the lions with six rebounds and two blocks.

Lincoln scored the first 11 points of the game and never looked back, opening an 18-11 lead after one quarter.  Brown (10 points) and Murray (six points) accounted for the bulk of the scoring.

A 9-0 run to open the second quarter put the Lions firmly in command 27-11.  The Panthers cut the lead to 12, 29-17 with a 6-2 run with 3:06 left before the Lions exploded with a 17-5 spurt in the final three minutes to take a 46-22 lead at the half.  Lincoln was 6-6 from the field over the final three minutes including five three-point field goals.

Claflin outscored the Lions 19-16 in the third quarter to cut Lincoln's lead to 21 before the Lions built the lead up to as many as 30, 78-48 with 2:04 left.  A traditional three-point play from Morton provided the final points for the Lions.

The Lions finished the game shooting 46% (29-63) from the field and 40% (10-25) from thee point range.  Claflin was 39.6%(19-48) from the field and connected on two of four shots from beyond the arc.   The Panthers did outscore the Lions 14-13 on the free throw line while the Lions forced 36 turnovers, leading to 42 points. 

The women's basketball team will be back in action on Saturday, December 14, 2019 when they host Johnson c. Smith at Manuel Rivero Hall.  The Lions defeated the Golden Bulls, 74-63 in Charlotte earlier this season.  Tipoff for Saturday's game is 2:00 p.m.