A strong third quarter by the regionally ranked Bowie State women's basketball team broke open a tight game as the Bulldogs pulled away for a 57-39 win Saturday afternoon at Manuel Rivero Hall.
 
The loss drops the Lions record to 13-11 overall and 7-6 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) games.  Lincoln still remains in second place in the North division with a 4-2 North division record.   The Bulldogs (#7 in Atlantic region) are third in the North Division with a 3-3 mark and improve to 18-4 overall and 10-3 in league play.
 
Kwanza Murray (Summerville, S.C./Summerville (Lackawanna College)) was the lone Lincoln player in double figures, leading all players with 18 points.  Alisia Machado (Brooklyn, N.Y./Medgar Evars Prep (Grambling)) led Lincoln with six rebounds while DeAshia Young (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Public Safety Academy (Labette CC)) dished out a game-high five assists.
 
Drew Calhoun and Kyaja Williams led the Bulldogs with 11 points apiece.
 
Calhoun scored all 11 of her points in the third quarter as the Bulldogs outscored the Lions 19-2 to open up a 45-28 lead.  Bowie State expanded the lead to 21with two straight buckets to open the fourth quarter before  Murray and DeeDee Irwin (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville Area) knocked down back-to-back three-pointers and Murray followed with a layup to close the gap to 13, 49-36 with 6:07 left in the game.  BSU finished the game with an 8-3 run
 
Earlier in the first half, the Lions used an 11-3 spurt over a seven minute period straddling the first and second quarters to take their biggest lead at 19-12.  Murray started the run with a three-point field goal and later added a traditional three-point play early in the second quarter before Jamari Tillman (Louisville, Ky./Doss) capped off the run with a three-point basket.   Following four straight Bulldog points, Kenzie Spencer's (Richmond, Va./Henrico) three-ball put the Lions back up six at 22-16 before the Bulldogs rallied to tie the score at the break 26-26.
 
The Lions return to action on Wednesday, February 13 when they travel to face Elizabeth City State University for their final regular season road contest.  Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.