EDMOND, Okla. - Central Oklahoma built a big first-half lead and held on to hand the Lincoln women's basketball team a 77-62 loss on Thursday (Jan. 28).

Every Blue Tiger who played in the game scored at least four points, with Hunter Yoakum leading the way with 16. Yoakum shot 3-for-5 from three-point range and now has 121 career treys, placing her just three shy of second place on the Lincoln all-time list. Yoakum also added three rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Central Oklahoma (14-6, 8-6 MIAA) shot .667 from three-point range in the first half en route to a 34-23 lead at the break. Lincoln connected on just one of its 11 attempts from long range through the first two quarters, and at one point trailed by 19 in the second period.

Consecutive layups by Zuri Hill sparked LU's comeback, as LU's defense held the Bronchos to just a pair of free throws over the final 4:46 of the half. The Blue Tigers scored the final six points of the period, and were able to enter the break down just 11 after an old-fashioned three-point play by Yoakum.

Lincoln (7-13, 3-11 MIAA)) heated up from long distance in the third quarter, with a pair of Sarah Neptune treys helping LU to cut the deficit down to 39-29. Yoakum hit two shots from three-point land to pull Lincoln to within 43-35, and Asia McCaskill hit a layup to make it a six-point game. UCO made a three of its own to go back up by nine, but Lizzie Nessling answered with yet another trey to make it a 46-40 affair.

The Bronchos scored the next seven points, and ended up taking a 59-45 lead by the end of the third quarter. A pair of free throws allowed the Blue Tigers to pull within 10 before the end of the quarter, but that was as close as LU would get the rest of the way. Lincoln finished with a 37-31 advantage in rebounding, including a 14-7 edge on the offensive glass, but committed 25 turnovers while forcing UCO into 16.

Hill scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds while Nessling led LU with nine boards. Nessling also scored five points, dished three assists and tallied a pair of steals. Dorian Briggs and McCaskill each scored seven, with Briggs providing three rebounds and a pair of assists. McCaskill contributed two steals.

Neptune finished with six points and six boards while Jasmine Guthrie scored six points and pulled down four rebounds. Guthrie also dished two assists. Azaria Nave tied for the team lead with three assists and rounded out the scoring with four points.

The Blue Tigers will stay in the state of Oklahoma for their next test, a rematch with Northeastern State in Tahlequah on Saturday (Jan. 30). Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CST.