AUSTIN, TX. – The Lincoln University women’s basketball team fought their way back from an 11-point deficit, but couldn’t quite make it all the way back, as St. Edward’s held on for the 59-51 Heartland Conference victory Thursday night.
St. Edward’s (5-16, 3-5 HC) built an 11-point lead nearly nine minutes into the second half, after Sara Head converted a pair of free throws to make it 42-31 at the 11:32 mark.
With the Hilltoppers still holding a nine-point advantage, the Blue Tigers (8-11, 3-7) began to chip away at the 4:02 mark with sophomore Quenita Washington converting a layup and then after a defensive stop, Washington stepped back from beyond the arc to drill a three-pointer to make it a four-point game. Lincoln continued with the momentum, as junior Paris Campbell converted on the next trip down the floor on a jumper at the 2:44 mark to all of a sudden make it a two-point game, 51-49.
That would be as close as the Blue Tigers would get, as St. Edward’s countered with Kelli Payton, who made back-to-back layups, including a three-point play on one of the layups to seal the victory for the Hilltoppers.
It was a tough battle throughout the first half, as the teams tied for times, with the last coming at the 6:06 mark, when St. Edward’s began to make their first run of the contest.
The Hilltoppers would score the next eight points over the next three and a half minutes and after the Blue Tigers cut it back down to four on a layup from junior Cherakie Barrett, St. Edward’s closed the half on a 4-0 run for the 27-19 halftime lead.
Lincoln started the second half strong, with senior Ashley Norris making a rare three and after senior Liere Dancy made a jumper, the Blue Tigers were within two, 29-27, just two minutes in. But, after that, St. Edward’s would eventually build the lead to their largest of the night of 11.
Washington was the lone Blue Tiger in double-digits with 12 points, as St. Edward’s Payton once again delivered, leading all-scorers with 22 points.
Both teams struggled from the field, as Lincoln shot just 38 percent (19-50), while St. Edward’s went 19-for-52 (36.5) from the field.
Lincoln will look to rebound when they stay on the road at Texas A&M International with tipoff set for 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Lincoln vs St. Edward's
02/04/10 5:30 p.m. at Austin, TX
At Austin, TX
ST. EDWARD'S 59, LINCOLN 51
LINCOLN (8-11, 3-7 HC)
Washington, Quenita 4-11 1-2 12; Norris, Ashley 2-8 3-4 8; Barrett, Cherakie
4-6 0-0 8; Smith, Stacey 3-9 2-4 8; Campbell, Paris 2-4 2-2 6; Dancy, Liere
2-5 0-0 4; Adams, Terika 1-3 0-0 3; Thomas, Cara 1-3 0-1 2; Aaron, Sade 0-1
0-0 0. Totals 19-50 8-13 51.
ST. EDWARD'S (5-16, 3-5 HC)
Kelli Payton 6-15 9-11 22; Brittany Ward 4-10 3-4 13; Sarah Milewski 3-5 2-2
8; Sara Head 2-5 2-2 6; Shaniqua Adams 2-8 0-0 4; Kasey Harlos 1-5 2-2 4;
Monica James 1-2 0-2 2; Shan Ghanem 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 19-52 18-23 59.
Lincoln....................... 19 32 - 51
St. Edward's.................. 27 32 - 59
3-point goals--Lincoln 5-14 (Washington, Quenita 3-8; Adams, Terika 1-1;
Norris, Ashley 1-1; Dancy, Liere 0-1; Aaron, Sade 0-1; Smith, Stacey 0-2),
St. Edward's 3-14 (Brittany Ward 2-4; Kelli Payton 1-5; Shaniqua Adams 0-2;
Kasey Harlos 0-3). Fouled out--Lincoln-None, St. Edward's-None.
Rebounds--Lincoln 30 (Smith, Stacey 13), St. Edward's 37 (Sara Head 15).
Assists--Lincoln 9 (Barrett, Cherakie 4), St. Edward's 6 (Brittany Ward 3).
Total fouls--Lincoln 19, St. Edward's 12. Technical fouls--Lincoln-None, St.
Edward's-None. A-128