NEW CAREER-HIGH BY SMITH NOT ENOUGH

The Lincoln University Blue Tigers (1-10) suited up on Dec. 19 without their top two scorers (Brezette Elder-Wade and Jasmine Washington) and left Rhodes Field House in Searcy, Ark. with a 73-53 defeat at the hands of the Harding University Lady Bisons (8-1). 

  Stacey Smith scored a career-high 16 points to lead the Blue Tigers.  In her first collegiate game, Isha Sam was the only other Blue Tiger to score in double figures (10).  Sam, a newly eligible transfer tied for game-high honors with 7 rebounds. 

   Lincoln University produced well in the paint, outscoring Harding University 40-26, but lacked consistent production from their guards (20 total points). 

   Jasmine McClendon paced the Lady Bisons with 21 points.  Scoring 11 points each were Catherine McMenamy, Kelsea Lyda and Kinsey Tucker.  Tucker dished a career-tying and game-high 10 assists in the game.  Kaitlin May added 9 points and 7 rebounds for Harding.   

   The victory was the seventh in a row for Harding.  The lone loss for the Lady Bisons was to West Alabama in their second game of the season (Nov. 18, 85-78 in Arkadelphia, Ark.).

   A jump shot by Nakea Bates, 17 seconds into the game gave the Blue Tigers their only lead of the evening, 2-0. 

   The 30 points scored in the first half by the Blue Tigers was their second largest opening half output of the season.  Lincoln University had their second lowest scoring production of the season in the second half (23 points).  The Blue Tigers shot 44 percent from the field, their third highest percentage of the 2006-07 campaign.  The 15 assists by the Blue Tigers is the second best ball sharing game to date.   

   Lincoln University struggled at the free-throw line connecting on a lowly 45 percent, their second lowest percentage of the season.  For the third game in a row the Blue Tigers had 20 or more turnovers.  In their last three games, the Blue Tigers are averaging 21.3 turnovers-per-game.

   A lack of an outside shooting presence in recent contests has hurt the Blue Tigers offensive output.  In their last five games, the Blue Tigers have combined for 35 total three-point attempts, an average of 7 per game.  The opposition has taken almost three times as many three point shots (112) and made 39 (35 percent). 

   The Blue Tigers play their final game of 2006 on Dec. 21 in Rolla, Mo.  Lincoln University plays at the University of Missouri-Rolla (6-3) in the Gale Bullman Multi-Purpose Building at 7:00 p.m.  The Lady Miners lead the series with the Blue Tigers 32-16. 

   The last win for the Blue Tigers over the Lady Miners was Dec. 2, 2003 in Rolla, Mo.  Lincoln University took a 36-27 lead at halftime and held on for a 66-64 victory.  Seniors Nicole Dierking and Becca Kueny were both freshmen in that 2003 game.  Dierking led the Lady Miners with 16 points, 5 assists and 3 steals in the 2003 loss to the Blue Tigers.  Kueny scored 10 points, raked in 6 rebounds and made a game-high 2 blocks in the 2003 defeat.