LAREDO, TX. – Trailing by eight with 2:30 to play, things looked dim for the Lincoln University women’s basketball team. Fast forward to the final six seconds and after Mary Tobias missed a free throw for Texas A&M International, that left the door open for Quenita Washington who nailed a game-winning three-pointer as the buzzer sounded giving Lincoln the stunning 72-71 Heartland Conference victory Saturday afternoon.
The Dustdevils (4-18, 3-6 HC) seemed to be in control after jumping their lead to eight, 68-60 with 2:30 to play in the game following a layup by Kiandra Metoyer.
Lincoln (9-11, 4-7 HC) then took control of the game thanks to senior Stacey Smith, who converted four straight free throws and then after a layup and subsequent free throw to complete the three-point play, Lincoln was within one, 68-67, with 1:12 left to play.
Senior Ashley Norris then put Lincoln on top after a Dustdevil turnover on a jumper with 52 seconds to play, 69-68. Tobias countered with a pair from the charity stripe, to regain the lead, 70-69, with 33 seconds to play.
Lincoln came down and missed a three-pointer, but still had six seconds left on the clock after fouling Tobias on the following in-bounds pass.
Tobias promptly hit the first, but then missed the second to allow junior Cherakie Barrett to grab the rebound and then find Washington, who came through with the winning trey at the buzzer.
TAMI led throughout the first half, building the lead as high as nine, but ended up trailing by one at the half thanks to a pair of free throws by Barrett giving Lincoln the 32-31 lead at the break.
Lincoln rode the momentum from their halftime comeback to build the lead to seven at the 18:52 mark of the second half after Barrett converted a layup.
The Dustdevils then came back to regain the lead over the next three minutes and held it all the way until the final minute of the game.
Four Blue Tigers found their way to double-figures, with Smith leading the way with 20 points, while Norris added 14, Washington with 13 and Barrett with 10.
Lincoln improved their shooting in the second half, as after shooting just 25 percent in the first half (8-31), the Blue Tigers shot right at 50 percent (14-28) in the second stanza.
Lincoln will now step out of conference play for their next contest at home against Rockhurst this Tuesday, Feb. 9 with tipoff set for 6 p.m. Rockhurst defeated Lincoln earlier this season, 68-57, back on Dec. 1.
Lincoln vs Texas A&M International Univ.
02/06/10 2 p.m. at Laredo, TX
At Laredo, TX
LINCOLN 72, TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL UNIV. 71
LINCOLN (9-11, 4-7 HC)
Smith, Stacey 5-16 9-10 20; Norris, Ashley 5-13 4-8 14; Washington, Quenita
4-8 1-2 13; Barrett, Cherakie 3-7 4-4 10; Adams, Terika 3-7 2-4 9; Dancy,
Liere 2-6 0-0 6; Campbell, Paris 0-2 0-0 0; Thomas, Cara 0-0 0-0 0. Totals
22-59 20-28 72.
TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL UNIV. (4-18, 3-6 HC)
Linda Banuelos 5-14 6-8 19; Kiandra Metoyer 6-14 4-5 17; Johnna Williams 4-7
4-9 12; Mary Tobias 3-7 3-4 10; Jenny Mendez 2-3 0-0 4; Latreshe Jones 1-7
1-2 3; Christina Tristan 1-6 0-0 2; Valencia Roy 1-2 0-0 2; Monica Gutierrez
1-3 0-0 2; Sasha Scott 0-0 0-0 0; Brittany Rendon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-63
18-28 71.
Lincoln....................... 32 40 - 72
Texas A&M International Univ.. 31 40 - 71
3-point goals--Lincoln 8-23 (Washington, Quenita 4-7; Dancy, Liere 2-5;
Smith, Stacey 1-7; Adams, Terika 1-3; Norris, Ashley 0-1), Texas A&M
International Univ. 5-18 (Linda Banuelos 3-6; Kiandra Metoyer 1-4; Mary
Tobias 1-5; Christina Tristan 0-2; Monica Gutierrez 0-1). Fouled
out--Lincoln-Norris, Ashley; Adams, Terika, Texas A&M International
Univ.-None. Rebounds--Lincoln 34 (Barrett, Cherakie 9), Texas A&M
International Univ. 51 (Christina Tristan 11). Assists--Lincoln 11 (Barrett,
Cherakie 5), Texas A&M International Univ. 13 (Kiandra Metoyer 5). Total
fouls--Lincoln 20, Texas A&M International Univ. 23. Technical
fouls--Lincoln-None, Texas A&M International Univ.-None.