DeAshia Young (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Public Safety Academy (Labette CC)) and Kwanza Murray (Summerville, S.C./Summerville (Lackawanna College)) combined for 41 points and Kenzie Spencer (Richmond, Va./Henrico) provided a spark off the bench with 20 points as the Lincoln University women's basketball team won for the fifth time in six games defeating Claflin University 74-61 Saturday afternoon at Tullis Arena in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

The Lions, ranked #7 in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region poll improved to 16-3 overall and 6-1 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association games.  The Panthers fall to 0-16, 0-9 in league play.

Murray led all players with 24 points (9-15 FG, 2-6 3 FG, 4-4 FT) while Young was a perfect 11-11 from the free throw line enroute to scoring 17 points.  Spencer provided a huge spark off the bench, making six three-point field goals and finishing the game with 20 points.  Young also dished out a game high five assists, including the 200^th of her Lincoln career.  She becomes just the fifth player in program history to record 200 or more assists.   Spencer's six three point f   goals move her back into second place on the Lions all-time three-point field goals list with 107 made, passing Murray who now has 103 'threes' with her two baskets from beyond the arc in today's game .Alisia Machado (Brooklyn, N.Y./Medgar Evars Prep (Grambling)) led all players with nine rebounds,

The Lions never trailed, jumping out ot a 13-4 lead following Spencer's first three point basket of the game and increased their lead to 21-8 by the end of the first quarter.    The two teams played even basketball in the second quarter as the Lions took a 41-28 lead into the locker room at the break.

Young was the catalyst on an 20-8 run in the third quarter as the Lions built their biggest lead of the game 61-36 with just over two minutes left in the quarter before the Panthers went on a 7-2 run to cut the lead to 20, 63-43.

The Panthers used an 11-3 run to close within 12 to open the fourth quarter and closed the gap to ten 69-59 with 2:30 left in the game before Murray made four straight free throws and Skydajah Patterson (Bronx, N.Y./) added another from the charity stripe to provide LU's final points.

Shakarri Mack led the Panthers with 17 points while Joice Beda Thomas added 14 points.  Dashia Jackson chipped in 13 points ad had a team high four assists.

The Lions return to action on Monday, January 20 ,2020 when they host Elizabeth City State University.  Tipoff is at 5:30 p.m.