LU women top Ouachita Baptist

BOLIVAR, Mo. - Lincoln senior Kate Frazier scored a game-high 19 points and the Blue Tigers overcame a six-point halftime deficit to claim a 79-64 win Saturday against Ouachita Baptist in the SBU Classic.

Frazier, one of five players to score in double figures for Lincoln, was 9-of-11 from the field and dished out four assists while totaling a career-high in points to lead the Blue Tigers (1-0) to a season-opening victory.

Kelsey Williams came off the bench to score 12 points, while Lizzie Nessling and Dorian Briggs both had 11 points and six rebounds. Kayton Cole added 10 points and four assists, while Hunter Yoakum chipped in with nine points.

Lincoln was 27-of-68 (40 percent) from the field, 21-of-28 (75 percent) from the free-throw line and caused 25 turnovers to put the Tigers (1-1) away.

Katherine West finished with 16 points, while Katie Kapler added 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds for Ouachita Baptist, which was 20-of-56 (36 percent) from the field and 20-of-24 (83 percent) from the charity stripe.

Lincoln and the Tigers traded leads six times and neither team led by more than six points in the first half, but Ouachita Baptist used a late surge to take a 37-31 lead - its biggest of the night - into the break.

The Blue Tigers traded leads with the Tigers nine times in the first 10 minutes of the second half, before a layup by Williams gave Lincoln a 55-53 lead with 9:44 to play.

That's when the Blue Tigers exploded with a 19-2 run to take a 70-55 lead with 4:35 remaining, and Lincoln was able to cruise from there.

The Blue Tigers will look for win No. 2 when they travel to McKendree at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Lincoln will play its home opener at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 29 against Quincy.