FAYETTE - The Lincoln women's basketball team saw a big second-half rally fall short as the Blue Tigers dropped their season opener 66-65 to Trinity International in the Central Methodist Eagles Classic.
Trinity raced out to a 26-12 lead to start the game and eventually led 32-23 at halftime.
But Lincoln came out of the locker room hot and eventually took its first lead of the game at 39-38 on a bucket by Quiessence Price.
That was the first of eight lead changes in the second half, with the last coming when DeAndra Wright converted a late four-point play to put Trinity up for good at 66-62.
Angela Randall hit a 3-pointer to get Lincoln within one, but the Trojans held on for the win.
Wright ended up pumping in a game-high 21 points for Trinity (2-1), an NAIA school from Deerfield, Ill.
Hunter Yoakum and Randall tied for the Lincoln team high with 13 points apiece, while Price added 10. Randall paced the Blue Tigers with five rebounds.
Trinity shot 52 percent in the win (26-of-50), while Lincoln connected on just 41 percent (23-of-56). Each team had 20 turnovers, while the Trojans had a slim 35-32 edge in rebounds.
The Blue Tigers will return to action in the Classic at 1 p.m. today against Hannibal-LaGrange.
III
BOLIVAR - This wasn't the kind of start the Lincoln men's basketball team wanted.
The Blue Tigers opened their season against Arkansas Tech in the Southwest Baptist Classic, and the Wonder Boys lived up to their nickname.
They put on a wonderful performance, leading by as many as 37 points before settling for a 99-63 win against the Blue Tigers.
Arkansas Tech shot 52 percent from the field, connecting on 33-of-65 shots, while holding Lincoln to just 32 percent (10-of-31). The Wonder Boys had a whopping 58-35 edge in rebounds.
Arkansas Tech made 28-of-40 free throws (76 percent), while Lincoln made 15-of-23 (67 percent). The teams were whistled for a combined 47 fouls.
Mike Smith dropped in 15 points for Lincoln, while Joshua Buie added 13. Aaron Spudich of the Blue Tigers tied for the game high with seven rebounds.
Lincoln will finish play in the Classic at 5:30 p.m. today against Henderson State.