JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – While the Lincoln University women’s basketball team will look to get back on track, the men’s basketball team will look for their first two-game winning streak of the season when they welcome in St. Mary’s for a Heartland Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon inside Jason Gym.
Despite shooting just 26 percent in their last game against Incarnate Word, the Blue Tigers nearly pulled out the victory, but lost to the team tied with St. Mary’s for the top spot in the conference.
The St. Mary (15-5, 7-1 HC) women’s team has cruised in the month of January, having won all seven games so far this month and are on a current eight-game winning streak, with a victory at the end of December adding to all of the wins this month. The Rattlers run started this month against Lincoln, defeating the Blue Tigers, 66-54, as SMU held just a one-point lead at halftime, but expanded the lead in the second half to hold off the Lincoln upset attempt.
Chastity Noble carried the Rattlers, tallying 28 points in the game, as Liz Boyd with 11 points was the only other Rattler to reach double-figures in the contest. Entering this week’s games, Noble ranks sixth in the conference in points, averaging 13.8 a game. The biggest win so far for the Rattlers came against Incarnate Word, as they defeated the Cardinals, 48-38, on the road which brought them into a tie for the conference and one that has remained since the teams played back on Jan. 16.
The Blue Tigers got a big game from freshman Terika Adams on Thursday night against Incarnate Word, posting a career-high 15 points to nearly bring Lincoln to the victory. Lincoln (7-10, 2-6 HC) remains in the hunt for the Heartland Conference Tournament, sitting just a half game out of fifth place, as the top six teams receive a spot in the regular season ending tournament.
Lincoln and St. Mary’s will tipoff the first game of a doubleheader at 2 p.m. inside Jason Gym Saturday afternoon. Fans that can’t make it to the game can follow all of the action through the live stats link below.
http://www.sidearmstats.com/lincolnu/wbball
On the men’s side, a new attitude was abound following the first win in two months with the Blue Tigers 86-77 victory over Incarnate Word Thursday night.
St. Mary’s (10-9, 5-4 HC) has been up and down throughout the season, having begun the month of January with a win over the Blue Tigers for a three-game winning streak, then the Rattlers lost a pair, won four in a row and lost their last time out at Newman Thursday night, 80-71.
In St. Mary’s 84-71 victory over the Blue Tigers back on Jan. 2, the Rattlers had five players in double-figures, with Kevin Kotzur pouring in 24 to lead the way. St. Mary’s also shot well all night, hitting nearly 66 percent (65.9) from the floor, including a 60 percent effort from downtown and an 82 percent effort at the charity stripe.
Lincoln (3-15, 1-8 HC) will hope to get another big game from the entire team, as five players scored in double-figures against the Cardinals, with senior Lionel Booker leading the way with 22.
SMU remains in the thick of the Heartland Conference, as they currently sit in a third place tie with Dallas Baptist and just a game behind Incarnate Word for second. The Blue Tigers sit three games out of the sixth and final spot in the tournament, in which Texas A&M International currently holds with a 4-5 conference mark.
Lincoln and St. Mary’s will conclude the doubleheader with the men’s game set to tipoff at 4:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon inside Jason Gym. Fans that can’t make it to the game can follow all of the action through the live stats link below.
http://www.sidearmstats.com/lincolnu/mbball