JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Zuri Hill hit a layup off a pass from Azaria Nave with 11 seconds remaining to give the Lincoln women's basketball team a 66-64 win over Northwest Missouri on Friday night (Dec. 18).

Northwest Missouri (2-9, 0-5 MIAA) began the game on a 7-1 run, but Lincoln (6-4, 2-2 MIAA) answered with eight-straight points to take a 9-7 lead with 4:14 to play in the first quarter. The Bearcats eventually hit a late layup to take a 14-12 lead at the end of the period, then out-scored the Blue Tigers, 19-11, in the second quarter to take a 33-23 lead into halftime. The Bearcats led for the entire second period, including holding a 15-point lead with 1:26 remaining before the break.

The second half was a different story, however, as the Blue Tigers shot .517 from the floor and .417 from three-point range to fight their way back into the ballgame. Lincoln cut the NWMSU lead down to 46-43 by the end of the third quarter, then took its first lead since the first period on a pair of free throws from Hill with 5:08 remaining. The lead changed hands six times afterwards, and the Bearcats tied the game up twice, including at 64 with 1:14 remaining.

After a missed three-point attempt, the Bearcats had a chance to take the lead with 30 seconds to play. The Bearcats attempted to get the ball inside the key, but Hill forced the ball out of the Bearcat player's hands and grabbed it to set LU up with an opportunity for the win. As the clock ticked down to 11 seconds remaining, Nave found Hill open underneath the basket, and Hill made a layup to give LU its final lead of the night. The Bearcats had one last opportunity, but a three-point attempt ricocheted off the backboard to preserved the Blue Tiger victory.

Hunter Yoakum sank three treys and led LU with 18 points and grabbed six rebounds while Nave was next with 13 points, three boards and three assists. Lizzie Nessling scored 11 and matched Yoakum with six rebounds to go with a pair of assists while Hill ended her night with nine points.

Dorian Briggs added eight points, four rebounds and a team-high three steals while Asia McCaskill chipped in five points and tallied five rebounds. Jasmine Guthrie played 28 minutes and led the Blue Tigers with nine boards and three assists while closing the scoring with two points. Sarah Neptune added a pair of assists and a steal to the Lincoln cause.

The Blue Tigers will be back at home on Sunday (Dec. 20), closing the calendar year by hosting Missouri Western at 1:30 p.m. CST. Members of the Boys & Girls Club, as well as local players who participated in one of Coach Nicole Collier's or Coach John Moseley's summer basketball camps, will receive free admission.