Once the Lincoln University women’s basketball took the lead for the first time at 6-5, the Blue Tigers didn’t look back, as they led the rest of the way on their way to a 71-51 victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State in Heartland Conference action Saturday afternoon inside Jason Gym.
The victory also helped Lincoln (12-14, 6-8 HC) secure a spot in the Heartland Conference for the first time since 2005, as the Blue Tigers claimed the fifth seed and will play St. Edward’s next Thursday at 12 p.m. in the quarterfinal round of the Heartland Conference Tournament that will take place at the Bill Greehey Arena on the campus of St. Mary’s in San Antonio, TX.
The Blue Tigers trailed 3-0 just 43 seconds in, but eventually went on a 12-2 run over the next six minutes to take a 12-5 lead on a layup from junior Cherakie Barrett at the 13:57 mark.
Lincoln pushed the lead as high as 17 in the first half, as a layup by senior Stacey Smith at the 2:00 mark put the Blue Tigers up, 34-17.
OPSU (8-19, 3-11 HC) hit a three 12 seconds later as Lincoln took a 34-20 lead into halftime.
Lincoln expanded the lead to their largest of the night at the 8:44 mark of the second half after Smith drained a jumper to give the Blue Tigers the 28-point advantage, 61-33.
Smith had yet another monster game, putting up a season-high 28 points, while also adding 13 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season. Smith also added six assists, two steals and a season-high six blocks.
Senior Ashley Norris added 14 points, while junior Cherakie Barrett posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Quenita Washington also found her way to double-digits, finishing with 10 points. Lincoln also held OPSU to just 32 percent shooting (17-53).
Lincoln will now prepare for the Heartland Conference Tournament that will begin this Thursday. The Blue Tigers will face St. Edward’s, as the Hilltoppers went 2-0 against Lincoln this season. Lincoln and St. Edward’s will tipoff at 12 p.m. CST Thursday afternoon in Austin, Tex. If Lincoln can pull off the victory, they would then face top-seed Incarnate Word on Friday at 12 p.m. in the semi-final round. This will be Lincoln’s fourth appearance in the Heartland Conference Tournament, with the last coming in 2005 when the Blue Tigers lost to top-seed Drury. This is also the first year in which the Heartland Conference expanded from four to six teams in the tournament.