Women's Basketball Outlast Lincoln Christian

The Blackburn College Women's Basketball Team was victorious over Lincoln Christian University by the score of 79- 69 on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln.

This marks the first win for the Beavers and the first in the Coach Daniel Johnson era. Blackburn was able to win thanks to their bench play as they scored more than half their points off the bench. Blackburn had five players with at least five points off the bench. The Beavers dominated the boards with a rebound advantage of 13.

The Red lions opened the game up with an 8-2 run. The Beavers would answer back with their own 8-2 run. Sophomore Mariah Hopson helped spark the run as she scored five of her seven first quarter points in the run. Lincoln Christain would regain the lead very short and keep it for the next minute and a half until the Beavers bench started to contribute as sophomore Sadie Keller would connect on a three to tie the game at 15 with 2:04 left in the quarter. The Red Lions had a two-point lead heading into the second quarter 18-16.

Blackburn played great in the second quarter, out-shooting their opponent 32 to 14. Keller would hit two free throws to begin the quarter which tied the game for the Beavers. This would mark the last time a tie or Blackburn trailing the rest of the game. Including the two earlier free throws the Beavers went on a 9-0 run to gain a seven-point advantage with 5:54 left. Lincoln Christan would fight back and cut the lead to two, but that was the closest they would get in the quarter. Senior Madison Duncan was perfect from the floor connecting on a three. She also grabbed a rebound and dished out an assist in the quarter. Senior Courtnee Riley also scored five points in just three minutes off the bench. Riley grabbed two boards and had an assist in the quarter. Blackburn led 39-32 at half.

The third quarter would open with Riley extending the lead to ten after hitting another three, assisted by Keller. Blackburn would maintain the lead but Lincoln Christian would not back down, with 2:09 left in the quarter the Beavers lead was only two. After a Blackburn timeout Hopson would score a lay-up to extend the lead 50-46. In the final minute sophomore Elizabeth Morris would score a two-point bucket and the lead was 52-49 headed to the final quarter. Riley once again led the Beavers with another five points and two assists.

In the 4th quarter Aryanna Harris and Hopson were determined to put this game away. Together they were responsible for 20 of the Beavers's 27 points in the quarter. Harris scored eight points, shooting six of eight from the free-throw line. She also assisted on three baskets, grabbed two boards, and had a steal. Hopson scored six points and was credited with two rebounds. The Beavers controlled the whole quarter ending with the ten point victory. 

Game Leaders for Blackburn:

Mariah Hopson 19p, 4r

Courtnee Riley 13p, 3r, 3a, 2s

Aryanna Harris 10p, 3r, 5a

Sadie Keller 5p, 5r, 2a, 2s

Blackburn improves to 1-6 and will travel to McKendree Tuesday, November 23rd. Tip-off will be at 5:30 P.M.