Charlotte, N.C. (Feb. 22, 2017 ) – Fifth-seeded Lincoln University came back from as many as 15-points down and took a thrilling 73-71 upset win over top-seeded Chowan University in the quarterfinals of the 2017 CIAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Bojangles Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon.
Lincoln started hot, bolting to a 10-0 lead to start the game. In that span,
Tiera Pendleton (Baltimore, Md.) and
She'cquan Bailey (Denton, Md.) each converted two free throws to go along with baskets by
Ashley Paynes-Hightower (Peoria, Ill.) and
Monique Cheek (Teaneck, N.J.). Chowan would fight back to close the gap to 14-12 following a
Courtni Williams (Chesapeake, Va.) jumper with 4:15 left.
Lincoln would boost their lead back to six points (21-15) at the 1:42 mark on another Pendleton jumper and Chowan's
Jordan Payne would score with four seconds remaining to make it 22-18 at the end of the first.
Chowan then went to work in the second quarter. Down 25-24 at the 7:40 mark, they embarked on a 16-3 run, limiting the Lions to only two field goals in the quarter. In the Hawk run,
Danielle Weldon (Glen Allen, Va.) and
Shaikeyla Jordan (Suffolk, Va.) scored back-to-back baskets. Chowan then forced the issue inside and drew multiple fouls.
Jordan Payne (Norfolk, Va.) would go 4-of-4 from the stripe and Williams would hit 3-of-4 from the line to put CU up 38-25. Chowan would close the half on a
Jordan Pettaway (Virginia Beach, Va.) jumper and Lincoln's
McKenzie Spencer (Richmond, Va.) responded with a three-pointer to end the second quarter scoring with Chowan lead 40-28 at halftime.
Chowan's lead would evaporate in the third quarter, as Lincoln came alive after falling down by 13 points (43-30) Lincoln went on a 14-5 run to close to 48-44 at the 3:43 mark after a Pendleton jumper.
De'jah Taylor (Nanuet, N.Y.)connected to draw within 52-49. After a Chowan miss, the lead dwindled to 52-51 after
Kholby Oliver (Bowie, Md.)scored with 2:13 left. Chowan would then get three free throws down the stretch to take the 55-52 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, after falling down by eight (60-52) Lincoln mounted yet another comeback, chipping away at the Hawk lead and drew to within 63-61 as Bailey connected on a jumper while falling down. The Lions then trimmed it to 65-64 after a layup from Oliver, who was fouled on the play. Her free throw at 4:08 made it 65-64 and after a Chowan turnover, Lincoln took the 66-65 lead on a breakaway basket by Pendleton with 3:53 to play.
The teams traded baskets on each of their next possessions and Lincoln's Taylor connected on an 18-footer to surge the Lions ahead 70-67, forcing a Chowan timeout with 2:33 to play.
After a Lincoln miss, Chowan cut into the Lincoln lead after a
Chantel Roberts (Suffolk, Va.) jumper and regained the 71-70 lead on a
Jada Lee (Virginia Beach, Va.) steal and layup at the 1:13 mark.
Lincoln's Bailey calmly took things into her own hands, driving and dropping in the go-ahead layup with 1:00 to play. Lincoln then forced a Chowan turnover and after calling their final timeout with 46.4 to play. Chowan played good defense on the possession, and rebounded a missed shot that was blocked by Payne. Lincoln then returned the favor, blocking Chowan's shot attempt and securing the rebound with 4.2 second to play.
After a Chowan foul, Lincoln's Pendleton hit 1-of-2 free throws to go ahead 73-71. Chowan then had a chance to win at the buzzer, but Jordan's three-pointer at the buzzer was strong, as Lincoln upset Chowan, 73-71.
Lincoln's She'cquan Bailey secured a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds on the afternoon to go along with five assists. Teammate Teira Pendleton had a game-high 20 points while Kholby Oliver had 14. Lincoln shot 47.4% from the field, including 60% in the fourth quarter to improve to 9-19 on the year.
Chowan (17-8) got 16 points from
Courtni Williams and
Jordan Payne posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Rounding out double-figure scoring for the Hawks was
Dhyamond Crenshaw (Burke, Va.), as she had 10 points.
Lincoln advances to take on Northern Division No. 3 seed Virginia State on Friday, Feb. 24 in the semifinals at the Spectrum Center at 1:00 p.m.
