There's no place like home.
At least that's what the Lincoln men's and women's basketball teams are hoping.
After playing a tough road schedule throughout December and January, both Blue Tiger programs will play five of their final seven regular-season games at home.
And it starts today when Lincoln hosts Lindenwood in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matchup at Jason Gym. The women's game will kick things off at 5:30 p.m., while the men's contest will follow at 7:30.
Both Blue Tiger teams are still trying to end a 12-game skid and pick up their first MIAA wins this season.
The Lincoln women (3-16, 0-12) will try to get that done against a Lindenwood team that is in its second season as a member of the MIAA.
After a 2012-13 campaign in which the Lions won just one league contest, Lindenwood (10-9, 5-7) is squarely in the hunt for the MIAA Tournament this season.
The Lions are coming off a 65-62 loss at Missouri Western and have fallen in six of their last eight games, while Lincoln is looking to bounce back after suffering a 55-47 loss Saturday at Northwest Missouri.
Lindenwood has the sixth-best scoring offense (73.7 ppg) in the MIAA, but its scoring defense (70.7 ppg) is ranked No. 13 out of 14 teams.
That could help the Blue Tigers, who are ranked last in the league in scoring offense (57.8 ppg) and 11th in scoring defense (68.2 ppg).
Jennifer Rosado has emerged as Lincoln's top scorer after recording nine straight double-digit performances, including four games with 20 or more points.
Rosado is averaging 13.6 points per game, while Hunter Yoakum is next with 10.5 ppg. Angela Randall (8.9 ppg) is the Blue Tigers' leader in rebounds (6.0), assists (2.3) and steals (2.1), while Quiessence Price is Lincoln's next top scorer at 6.8 ppg.
Lindenwood has three players averaging double digits. Kassidy Gengenbacher leads the pack with 14.2 points per game, while Caroline Bourlioux (12.1) and Marissa Lehnig (11.2) round out the top scorers for the Lions. Jenny Rocha is next with 9.1 ppg and has a team-best 70 assists on the season.
Bre Zanders, a freshman from Helias, has played in all 19 games for Lindenwood this season, including two starts. She is averaging 3.6 points and 3.0 rebounds.
The Lincoln men (2-18, 1-7) are coming off a 92-59 loss Saturday at MIAA leader Northwest Missouri and will try to right the ship when they face Lindenwood (9-13, 4-8), which has lost five of its last six games and is 1-5 on the road this season.
Lincoln is ranked last in the MIAA in both scoring offense (74.4 ppg) and scoring defense (89.2 ppg), while the Lions are No. 12 in scoring offense (76.1 ppg) and No. 8 in scoring defense (76.2 ppg).
Joshua Buie leads the Blue Tigers with 15.8 points per game and is averaging 22 points in his last six outings. The junior also paces Lincoln in steals (39) and assists (64).
Mike Smith is next in line with 15.5 ppg, while Charles Cole (9.0 ppg) and James Edmond (7.1 ppg) round out the top scorers for the Blue Tigers.
Darris Smith averages 15.8 points per game, while Tyler Ressel (14.7 ppg), Brandon Marquardt (9.1 ppg), Michael Boos (9.1 ppg) and Garrett Reeg (8.6 ppg) lead Lindenwood offensively.
Both Lincoln teams will play at home again Saturday afternoon as the Blue Tigers host Northwest Missouri.