LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. – The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania women's and men's basketball programs encourage all those in attendance Thursday night to "Blue Out" Manuel Rivero Gymnasium as the Lions attempt to have the Trojans "singing the blues" on the bus ride home to Ettrick.
 
What You Need to Know:
 

• Time and Date: Thursday, January 26, 2023 (5:30 & 7:30 p.m.)

 

• Video: https://theciaasn.com/lincoln/ (CIAA Sports Network)

 

• Audio: N/A

 

• WBB Live Stats: https://lulions.com/sidearmstats/wbball/media

 

• MBB Live Stats: https://lulions.com/sidearmstats/mbball/media

 

• Tickets: https://bit.ly/LULionsTickets

 

• WBB Records: Lincoln-PA (14-5, 8-1 CIAA) | Virginia State (8-11, 4-5 CIAA)

 

• MBB Records: Lincoln-PA (9-11, 4-5 CIAA) | Virginia State (13-6, 6-2 CIAA)

 

• Location: Lincoln University, Pennsylvania – Manuel Rivero Gymnasium

 

• WBB Last Meeting: February 19, 2022 | Lincoln (PA) 77, Virginia State 62 | Lincoln University, Pennsylvania (Manuel Rivero Gymnasium)

 

• MBB Last Meeting: February 19, 2022 | Lincoln (PA) 74, Virginia State 73 | Lincoln University, Pennsylvania (Manuel Rivero Gymnasium)

 

• WBB Winning Streak: Lincoln-PA (W6) | Virginia State's Last Win: February 24, 2018 (64-56)

 

• MBB Winning Streak: Lincoln-PA (W2) | Virginia State's Last Win: February 13, 2020 (82-73)

 
Lincoln (PA) WBB Overview:
 
LU of PA is currently slotted as the fifth-best team in the Atlantic Region in the D2SIDA poll released on January 23, ranked behind only Gannon, West Virginia State, Glenville State, and Shippensburg.
 
The women have been one of the few elite teams in NCAA Division II college basketball, snagging the third-highest offensive rebounding average in the nation at an exceptional 17.6 boards on missing shot attempts per game.
 
The Lions also lead the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in scoring offense (70.6), three-pointers made a contest (6.1), and overall winning percentage (73.7%).
 
Both Jaleesa Lanier (Easton, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) and Anyssa Fields (Long Branch, N.J./Long Branch) top the conference leaderboards as Lanier boasts an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.41 while Fields has sunk the most field goals in the league at 109.
 
Scouting the Virginia State Trojans (WBB):
 
The Trojans enter the matchup on a bit of a cold spell, falling in its last three outings at Shaw, vs. Elizabeth City State, and on the road at Bluefield State.
 
If "defense wins championships" then VSU has the blueprint, sitting just outside the top-10 in the country for field goal percentage allowed (34.4%), top-20 in terms of three-point percentage given up (25.5%), top-40 regarding turnovers forced per game (20.63), and top-45 for scoring defense (58.2).
 
Sommer Blakemore is the top scoring threat and floor general, ranking eighth in the league with 14.3 points a night and leading the CIAA at 64 assists on the season.
 
Lincoln (PA) MBB Overview:
 
The men will look to continue its success inside the Lions Den, winning six of its ten games inside the friendly confines of Rivero Gym including three victories over their last four home tilts.
 
You will find Lincoln University (PA) on the short list of best defensive teams in the NCAA in 2022-23, landing eighth overall for turnover margin (+5.1) and fifth in turnovers caused per contest (18.79).
 
Korey Williams' (Brooklyn, N.Y./LaSalle Academy) name is littered up and down the CIAA statistical leaders lists, ranking second in free throws made (86), third for points per game (16.6) and free throw percentage (81.9), plus fourth regarding three-pointers a night (2.11).
 
Scouting the Virginia State Trojans (MBB):
 
The visitors from Virginia are knocking on the door of making the D2SIDA top-ten for the Atlantic Region, presently receiving two votes as the second team on the outside looking in.
 
Virginia State started league play on a roll, winning first five games against its CIAA peers but have since cooled considerably, losing two straight versus Virginia Union and Shaw before bouncing back opposite Elizabeth City State on Saturday.
 
The Trojans have done well getting to the free throw line, winning the rebounding battle, and making its long-range jumpers. The Blue and Orange have obtained an average of 25.3 trips to the charity stripe per night (6th in NCAA) on top of a +6.2 margin on the glass (top-25) and a league leading 37.4% three-point conversion rate.
 
VSU has three different student-athletes perched at the top spot in the CIAA for various stats.
 
Francis Fitzgerald tops all players in total three-pointers made (44), three-point percentage (43.6%), and defensive rebounds per game (6.82).
 
Terrence Hunter-Whitfield is the alpha male regarding steals (38) plus free throws converted (88) and Zach Newkirk leads the way in for assists per game (4.1) as well as free throw percentage (82.5).