ST. LOUIS - Lincoln placed three players in double figures and the Blue Tigers didn't allow a field goal in the final 6:36 of the game to claim a 58-51 win Saturday against Maryville in the second round of the UMSL Classic.
Maryville (1-2) led 49-41 with 6:36 to play, but Lincoln (3-1) ended the contest with a 17-2 run to put the Saints away.
Hunter Yoakum scored 14 points, while Kelsey Williams added 13 points and seven assists to lead the Blue Tigers. Kate Frazier added 12 points for Lincoln, which was 21-of-63 (33 percent) from the field and 10-of-14 (71 percent) from the free-throw line.
Maryville claimed a 47-37 rebounding advantage, but the Saints committed 20 turnovers.
Jordynn Martin scored a game-high 17 points for Maryville, which was 18-of-53 (34 percent) from the field and 11-of-16 (69 percent) from the charity stripe.
The Saints entered the second half with a 32-25 lead and maintained a seven-point advantage for the next seven minutes, but Yoakum scored five quick points as part of a 7-0 Lincoln run to tie the game at 39 with 11:21 to play.
Maryville was able to build its lead back up to eight, but the Blue Tigers' defense stepped up when it mattered most.
The Saints led by as many as 12 with 4:29 to play in the first half, but Lincoln finished the period on a 7-0 run to pull within five at the break.
The Blue Tigers, who won five games last season, will have a week off before making their home debut at 1:30 p.m. Saturday against Quincy at Jason Gym.