The Lincoln University women's basketball team came back from a six-point fourth quarter deficit to tie their game against Chowan University before the Hawks scored the game-winner with 34 seconds left to earn a 57-55 win over the Lions at Manuel Rivero Hall Thursday night.
 
The loss drops the Lions record to 14-13 overall and 8-8 in overall Central intercollegiate Athletic Association games.  The Lions are also 5-4 in CIAA north division games and have secured the number three seed in the division for the upcoming CIAA Tournament.   Chowan improves to 13-13 overall and 8-8 in league play.
 
 
Kwanza Murray (Summerville, S.C./Summerville (Lackawanna College)) led all scorers with a career-high 27 points (11-18 FG, 5-8 3FG) and was the lone Lincoln player in double figures.  Alisia Machado (Brooklyn, N.Y./Medgar Evars Prep (Grambling)) had seven points, seven rebounds and four blocks while DeAshia Young (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Public Safety Academy (Labette CC)) recorded a double-double with ten assists and ten rebounds.
 
Mariah Coker and Jada Lee led the Hawks with 13 and 11 points respectively.
 
The Lions trailed by six, 54-48 with 6:40 remaining as both teams went cold before Machado's layup at the 4:24 mark closed the gap to four.  Kenzie Spencer (Richmond, Va./Henrico) added a layup at the 3:35 mark to make the score 54-52.   Chowan's Danielle Weldon made one of two free throws at the 2:42 mark to boost the Hawk lead to three at 55-52 before the offenses went cold again for a two minute stretch.  After a CU turnover and timeout to advance the ball with just under a minute left, Murray banked home a three point shot to tie the game at 55-55 with 46 seconds left on the clock.   Weldon however got the ball down low on the Hawks' next possession and scored the go-ahead layup with 34 seconds left and the Lions were unable to score again as the Hawks hung on for the win.
 
Lincoln had jumped out to an early 22-13 lead after one period and increased their margin to 29-16 before the hawks closed out the second quarter on a 13-2 spurt to pull within two 31-29 at halftime. 
 
DeeDee Irwin (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) opened the third quarter with a mid-range jumper to give the Lions a 33-29 lead  before Chowan went on an 8-0 tear to reverse deficit and later increased their lead to 44-39 before Murray's layup closed the gap to three heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The Lions will play their final home game of the 2018-19 season on Saturday, when they host Virginia State University.   Tipoff will be at 2:00 p.m.