Lincoln realizes it needs one more victory to match last year's win total.
And while the Blue Tigers know that can be accomplished six games into the season, they don't plan on getting complacent any time soon.
"We're not satisfied," Lincoln sophomore Kelsey Williams said. "We want to go out every game and come out on top. We have a lot to prove. I think this team is good at keeping composure and understanding that we still have work to do."
Williams scored a game-high 17 points to lead six Lincoln players in double figures as the Blue Tigers claimed a 90-79 win Saturday against Quincy in a non-conference game at Jason Gym in Jefferson City.
Hunter Yoakum finished with 14 points, while Jasmine Guthrie and Seleena Neal both came off the bench to score 12. Kate Frazier scored 10 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds, while Dorian Briggs chipped in with another 10 points for Lincoln, which improved to 4-1 after compiling a 5-21 record last season.
"I think we see the bigger picture," Lincoln head coach Nicole Collier said. "Everybody was very aware of our overall record last year and what our agenda was this year. We understand that every game counts. We know we're talented, but we have to show up every night."
For Williams, who added seven assists, the hot start might mean a little more after missing all of last season with an injury.
"Since I didn't play last year, it was kind of a, "Let's bounce back and let's bring Lincoln back up,'" she said. "We've had a couple of bad years, and I feel like we need to bring that up. I feel like this team will do that."
The Blue Tigers were 35-of-64 from the field (55 percent) and 8-of-18 from beyond the arc, while forcing 22 Quincy turnovers. The Hawks (2-3) were 31-of-61 (51 percent) from the field and 10-of-20 from 3-point range.
"I felt like our defense was there," Yoakum said. "We had the right rotations, we were helping our teammates out. There was a lot of talking and communication, and that was a big key today."
Lincoln jumped out to a 12-0 lead in the first two minutes of the game, but Quincy responded with 20-0 run to take an eight-point lead with 12:22 to play in the first half.
The surge by the Hawks didn't phase the Blue Tigers.
"We just had to keep our composure and just fight through it," Frazier said. "Basketball is a game of runs. We're going to make a run, they're going to make a run. It's how you sustain your run and counter theirs."
Guthrie made three straight jumpers to get Lincoln back on track and a three-point play by Williams capped a 19-4 run to give the Blue Tigers a 31-24 lead with 5:11 remaining before the break.
Lincoln, which was 16-of-32 (50 percent) from the field in the first half, entered the locker room with a 38-29 lead and the Blue Tigers were able to control the tempo from there.
"When we move the ball we're successful," Collier said. "I think we got some easy looks at the rim with their press."
Lincoln led by as many as 19 after a pair of free throws by Williams with 5:27 to play, but Quincy made it interesting again by going on a 15-4 run to cut its deficit to eight with 2:11 remaining.
Williams scored six points in the final two minutes to hold off the late surge by the Hawks, a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
"I think it's part of me having good team players - they get me the ball, I get them the ball," Williams said. "I don't think (the defense) is going to help off on me, because I have good shooters around me. It helps me a lot just to play one-on-one."
Lincoln, which was picked to finish last in Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association, will open up league play on the road at 5:30 p.m. Thursday against Northeastern State.
"We have to keep pushing through and keep having confidence," Fraizer said. "At the same time, we know we still haven't proven anything yet. We still have something to prove. We still have a chip on our shoulder."
Follow News Tribune reporter Josh Hall (@jhall04) on Twitter for updates during games.