LU women drop home opener

Cold shooting and 19 turnovers doomed the Lincoln women's basketball team as the Blue Tigers dropped their home opener 54-41 to McKendree on Tuesday night.

Both teams had difficulty landing shots in the first half, which ended with McKendree leading 24-15. The Bearcats and Blue Tigers combined to go just 16-of-52 from the floor (31 percent) in the opening 20 minutes.

McKendree warmed up in the second half, though, making 10-of-19, while Lincoln stayed cold at 9-of-24.

However, Kieanna Wharton did give Lincoln a lead at 28-26 with an offensive rebound and putback, the Blue Tigers' first lead of the game.

After the Bearcats scored four straight, the Blue Tigers would eventually tie it up one last time. However, McKendree then ripped off seven straight points to take control.

Lizzie Nessling and Angela Randall led Lincoln with 10 points apiece.

The Blue Tigers are now 1-1 on the season while McKendree is 1-0.

Lincoln will next be in action this weekend in the Winstead Reeves Classic at Northwest Missouri State University. The Blue Tigers open against William Jewell at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, then play Truman State at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.