Lincoln University of Missouri

WOMEN VICTORIOUS, MEN STILL WINLESS IN HEARTLAND

The Blue Tigers gained a spilt in Heartland Conference play at home on Jan. 27.  Lincoln University won 64-58 over St. Mary’s University under the direction of assistant coach Jenone Bell.  Athletic Director and head coach Tim Abney was attending the funeral of the daughter of Lincoln University President Dr. Carolyn R. Mahoney in Ohio.  

   Lincoln University lost the men’s contest 69-67.  Robert Owens elevated in the paint over a bevy of Blue Tigers to loft the game winning shot with 2.3 seconds left.

   The Blue Tigers have not swept a Heartland Conference doubleheader at home since victories on Feb. 5, 2005 against University of the Incarnate Word.

Women’s Basketball

   In a game were the lead for either team never rose above six points, the Blue Tigers came from behind for a 64-58 win over St. Mary’s University in Jason Gymnasium on Jan. 27.

   Lincoln University goes to 3-16 overall, 1-4 Heartland Conference with the victory.  St. Mary’s drops to 6-13 and 2-3. 

   St. Mary’s took their largest lead of the first half 13-8 at the 6:35 mark.  The Blue Tigers rallied with a 12-5 run, capped with a Rachelle Watkins 3-point shot to go in front 20-18 with 2:54 remaining until halftime.  The Rattlers led 23-22 at halftime. 

   A three-point play by Ashton Benford of St. Mary’s with 16:21 to play in the second half pushed the Rattlers advantage to 34-29.  A 9-0 spree by the Blue Tigers began with a defensive rebound by Cherika Ramsey that led to a Jasmine Washington basket.  The run was finished by a bucket from Ramsey to give the Blue Tigers a 38-34 edge with 13:17 to play.  The Rattlers charged back into the lead 44-41 with a 10-3 spurt, which ended on a Charlena Rodez shot with 10:46 remaining.  Back-to-back baskets from Tiffannie Wolfe and Watkins gave the Blue Tigers a 45-44 lead.  The Blue Tigers extended their advantage to 47-44 after a Ramsey make.  Rodez completed a three-point play to tie the game 47-47 with 9:06 on the clock.  Washington knocked in a two-pointer, nine seconds later (8:51) to give Lincoln University a 49-47 advantage and a lead they would not relinquish, as they earned the Heartland Conference win 64-58.        

   The Rattlers were led by 15 points from Juanita Merchant.  Charlena Rodez added 13, Natalie Gamez 12 and Ashton Benford 9.  Gamez and Benford grabbed 7 rebounds apiece.

   Jasmine Washington paced the Blue Tigers with 15 points.  Brezette Elder-Wade scored 14 and Tiffannie Wolfe had 9 and a game-high 9 rebounds.

   Propelling the Blue Tigers to victory was a season low 12 turnovers.  The 12 turnovers are the fewest given up by the Blue Tigers since a Jan. 3, 2006 game with Harding (Ark.) University, in which Lincoln University committed 12. 

   For the sixth time this season, the Blue Tigers shot greater than 42 percent.  Lincoln University hit 42.6 percent (23-of-54) from the field. 

   The Blue Tigers made the most of the 20 turnovers by the Rattlers.  Off of those 20 turnovers, Lincoln University scored 19 points.  The Blue Tigers are 2-3 when they force 20 or more turnovers.

   The Blue Tigers are now 3-10 (two overtime losses) in Heartland Conference play with the Rattlers, not including a 0-1 mark in the Heartland Conference Postseason Tournament.  Prior to toady’s win the last Blue Tigers victory over St. Mary’s University was Feb. 3, 2005 60-52 in Jason Gymnasium. 

   The women’s basketball team plays next Friday (Feb. 2) at 5:30 p.m. in Jason Gymnasium against Montana State University-Billings. 

Men's Basketball

   Having the ball last is often a factor in winning games, especially close ones.  From that possession, a team can score by making a shot or hitting one, two or three free-throws.  Dominique Richardson of St. Mary’s grabbed a defensive rebound with :33 seconds to play after a 3-point attempt by Jared Boone of Lincoln University bounded off the back of the rim.  St. Mary’s called a full-timeout with :20 seconds remaining and won the game 69-67 when a forced shot from Robert Owens, who was shrouded by several Blue Tigers sailed through the rim and caressed the net.

   The Blue Tigers are 3-13 overall and 0-5 in Heartland Conference play.  Lincoln University has lost 13 consecutive games.  It is the Blue Tigers longest losing streak since a span from Dec. 6, 2003 to Feb. 5, 2004 (12 games).  Dating back to the 2005-06 season the Blue Tigers have lost seven Heartland Conference games in a row.  St. Mary’s University improves to 11-8 and 4-2. 

   Made shots by four different Blue Tigers in the opening 2:45 of action gave the home team an 8-7 lead.  Marcus Hill tied the game 10-10 for the Rattlers with 14:47 left in the half.  St. Mary’s continued to push ahead of the Blue Tigers taking a first half high eight-point edge 18-10 at the 12:42 mark.  Lincoln University played from behind the rest of the half and trailed 37-33 at halftime. 

   St. Mary’s scored 12 points off of 10 first half turnovers made by Lincoln University. 

   The Blue Tigers fought back taking one-point leads twice in the first 4:30 of the second half. Brandon Harris hit a shot with 15:41 left to give Lincoln University a 40-39 edge.  A 19-9 run by the Rattlers earned them their largest lead of the game 58-49 with 8:23 to play.  Using a 10-3 spurt allowed the Blue Tigers to forge a 61-61 tie with 4:04 to go.  Inside of the final 3:28 the teams tied three times.  Each team held a two-point lead twice as the game wound down with St. Mary’s edge arriving after the game-winning heave.  Robert Owens provided the heroic game-clinching moment, as he elevated in the paint over a bevy of Blue Tigers to loft the game winning shot with 2.3 seconds left, to garner the Rattlers a 69-67 win.  The dramatic conclusion of the see-saw affair, culminated with the St. Mary’s Rattlers rushing the Jason Gymnasium court in victorious jubilation

   The 3-point shooting touch put on display often this season by the Blue Tigers eluded them today in defeat.  That lack of outside scoring (0-of-9) from 3-point range, coupled with a handful of missed free-throws were key factors in the game.  It is the worst game from 3-point range for a Blue Tiger team since Nov. 15, 2003 (1-of-7, 14.3 percent). 

   The Blue Tigers 46.3 percent (25-of-54) field goal percentage was their highest since hitting 49.1 percent on Dec. 28, 2006.

   Jarvis Lee led a balanced scoring attack for the Rattlers with 15 points.  Joe Dinkins added 11, Marcus Hill and Latez Williams each scored 9.

   Every Blue Tiger who played scored.  Marcus Warren scored a career and game-high 17 points for Lincoln University.  Harris threw in 10 points, James Edwards and Vandder Hughes scored 9 apiece.  Edwards led all players with 7 rebounds. 

   The Rattlers also shot 46.3 percent (25-of-54) from the field.  St. Mary’s connected on 6-of-15 (40 percent) from 3-point range and hit 76.5 percent (13-of-17) from the free-throw line compared to the Blue Tigers 73.9 percent (17-of-23).

  Head coach Charles Terry was very close to picking up his first victory over St. Mary’s.  Lincoln University has lost by an average of 8 points to St. Mary’s in the four games coached by Terry in Jason Gymnasium. 

   The Blue Tigers hope to avoid tying their longest Heartland Conference winless streak when they host Heartland Conference newcomer, Dallas (Texas) Baptist University, Jan. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Jason Gymnasium.  The Patriots enter the contest 6-11 overall, 3-3 Heartland Conference.  Lincoln University lost eight consecutive Heartland Conference games between Jan. 8, 2004 and Feb. 5, 2004.  

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