ROLLA - The Lincoln's women's basketball team couldn't hold onto a 44-38 third-quarter lead on the road Wednesday against Missouri S&T (2-1), as the Blue Tigers fell to 0-2 this season after a 73-66 loss.
Senior guard Hunter Yoakum led Lincoln with 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting. Through two games, Yoakum is averaging 21.5 points-per-game, which ties for the team lead.
Senior guard Azaria Nave, who also averages 21.5 points-per-game for the Blue Tigers, was the second-leading scorer for Lincoln on Wednesday night, as she scored 16 points off of 6-of-17 shooting.
However, the efforts of these two seniors was not enough to hold off a Missouri S&T squad that had five players score in double figures. Lincoln held a 44-38 lead in the third quarter, but the Miners stormed back in the last five minutes of the period to take a 50-49 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Blue Tigers were unable to finish off the Miners, as Missouri S&T scored 23 points in the final period to take the win. Missouri S&T shot 51.9 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc in the second half. The Blue Tigers shot 37.1 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from deep in the final 20 minutes.
The Blue Tigers were outrebounded 43-33, allowing 14 second-chance points. Lincoln also struggled to produce points from its bench, as the Blue Tigers were only able to score seven bench points in comparison to the 33 for the Miners.
Sophomore guard Tempary Gunter (Tuscumbia High School) nearly had a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbed seven boards. Freshman forward Erica Gibbons contributed nine points, four rebounds and three steals.
The Blue Tigers host Missouri-St. Louis in their home opener at 7 p.m. Friday.