The Lincoln University women's basketball team continues to roll up victories, earning their sixth straight win with a dominant defensive effort over Virginia State University 88-44 Monday night at Manuel Rivero Gymnasium.
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The Lions become the first team in the Atlantic region to reach 19 wins, improving to 19-3 on the season and 9-1 in Central intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) games. The Lions' 19 wins equals the second highest single season total in program history tying the 2006-07 squad which was coached by Andy Haman. The Trojans fall to 8-14 overall and 4-6 in league play.
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Lincoln's defense limited the Trojans to just 14 field goals and a held the visitors to just 26.9% shooting. Lincoln also forced 29 turnovers, scoring 35 points from the VSU miscues.
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Eleven different players scored at least four points to pace the Lions offense.Â
Janya Lilly (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Poly Tech) and
Kwanza Murray (Summerville, S.C./Summerville (Lackawanna College)) had 11 points apiece while
Skydajah Patterson (Bronx, N.Y./) fell just one rebound shy of a double-double with ten points and a game-high nine rebounds.Â
Brittany Hinton (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter (Baltimore City C.C)), in her first start of the season, scored a season high nine points.Â
Joy Morton (Lansdowne, Pa./Penn Wood (Harford C.C.)) and
Bryanna Brown (New York, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin (Nyack)) added eight points apiece. Morton also dished out six assists while Brown added three and a career-high five steals.
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After struggling offensively in the first quarter (3-20 FG, 15%), Lincoln was able to hold a 15-10 lead courtesy of a 7-8 effort from the free throw line. The Lions exploded in the second quarter, outscoring the Trojans 31-11 to take a 46-21 lead at halftime. Nineteen of the Lions 31 second quarter points came after forcing a VSU turnover.
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Lincoln opened the third quarter with back-to-back three point baskets from
Kenzie Spencer (Richmond, Va./Henrico) and
Shantel Cheeks (Washington D.C./Rock Creek Christian Academy (Harcum College)) to push their lead over 30 points. Hinton's layup then completed the 8-0 run to open the quarter. Lincoln led 66-32 after three quarters.
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The Trojans had an 8-4 run to start the fourth quarter, cutting Lincoln's lead to 30 before the Lions countered with a 12-2 run, getting three baskets from Murray, layups from
Alisia Machado (Brooklyn, N.Y./Medgar Evars Prep (Grambling)) and
Shahra Madison (Chesapeake, Va./Norfolk Collegiate School (Chesapeake College)) and two free throws from Brown to cap the run and take an 82-42 lead late in the quarter. Madison added another free throw to round out Lincoln's scoring.
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Bianca White was the lone VSU player in double figures with 11 points. Jalynn Spaulding added nine points and eight rebounds while Raelyn Muldrow had seven points and eight rebounds.
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The Lions return to action on Saturday, February 1, 2020 when they host Shaw University. Tipoff is at 2 p.m.Â
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