Ten different players scored as the Lincoln University women's basketball team held off a late run by regionally ranked Bowie State University to earn their fifth straight win 63-59 Saturday afternoon before a packed house at the Lions' Manuel Rivero Gym.
 
The Lions improve to a conference-best 18-3 overall and 8-1 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) games.  Lincoln becomes just the second team in the Atlantic region, behind #1 ranked Indiana, Pa to reach the 18-win plateau. And equals the third highest win total in program history, behind 22 in 2014-15 and and 19 in 2006-07.  The Bulldogs fall to 16-3 overall and 6-2 in league play.   Division-wise, the Lions are 4-0 while the Bulldogs are 0-1.
 
Bryanna Brown (New York, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin (Nyack)) and Kwanza Murray (Summerville, S.C./Summerville (Lackawanna College)) were the lone Lincoln players in double figures as the Lions had ten players score points, eight of which scored four or more.  Murray and Brown both had 11 points.  Kenzie Spencer (Richmond, Va./Henrico) and Skyedajah Patterson added eight apiece while Shantel Cheeks (Washington D.C./Rock Creek Christian Academy (Harcum College)) chipped in six.    Murray, Spencer and Patterson led the team with five rebounds apiece while six different players dished out two assists apiece.  Brown also had four steals and Murray added three.
 
It was atypical Lincoln-Bowie State contest with the Bulldogs scoring the first five points and the Lions roaring back to take a three point lead before BSU's Drew Calhoun nailed a three-point basket to tie the game at 14-14 after one quarter of action.
 
Five ties and three lead changes highlighted the second quarter with neither team leading by more than three points with DeAshia Young's (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Public Safety Academy (Labette CC)) three point basket knotting the game again at 28-28 as the teams headed into the locker room at halftime.
 
The Bulldogs scored the first two baskets of the third quarter and led by as many as four points 37-33 with 4:05 left.  Cheeks' layup at the 2:36 mark gave Lincoln their first lead of the quarter starting an 11-5 run that saw the Lions take a 48-43 lead heading into the final quarter.  Brown had five of the Lions' 11 points in the run with Cheeks and Patterson providing big baskets as well along the way.
 
The Lions continued their run into the fourth quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs 13-3 in the opening 4:17 to take their biggest lead at 61-46 with Spencer and Patterson providing the spark.    BSU's Chyna Butler converted two straight layups before Patterson added a free throw to make the score 62-50 with 3:20 left.  The Lions weathered the final Bulldog charge which saw Bowie State outscore Lincoln 9-1 over the final 3:20 to cut LU's final lead to four.
 
Talanya Hutton led all scorers with 17 points while Kyaja Williams added 14 points and 20 rebounds while dishing out a game-high four assists.  Dynaisha Christian added ten rebounds and nine points.
 
The Lions bench was a big factor in the win, outscoring the Bulldogs bench 30-14.  Both teams made 23 field goals with Lincoln being slightly more efficient (41.8% to 37.7%).  Bowie State did hold a 43-35 rebounding advantage including a 15-6 mark on the offensive glass, producing 14 second chance points to LU's four.  Lincoln scored 25 points of 19 Bowie State turnovers and outscored the Bulldogs 34-22 in the paint. 
 
The women's basketball team returns to action on Monday, January 27, 2020 when they host Virginia State University in a CIAAA North Division matchup.  Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.