EMPORIA, Kan. - A 32-point fourth quarter nearly allowed the Lincoln women's basketball team to complete a comeback, but Emporia State hung on in the end for a 92-86 win on Thursday (Feb.11).

Several Blue Tigers posted very impressive performances, including Vivian Chigbu, who had 18 points and a team-high 10 rebounds. AJ Bradley nearly had a double-double herself, as she dished 10 assists and chipped in nine points to go with five boards and two steals. Niyah Jackson, meanwhile, led LU with 24 points and dished five assists while securing five rebounds and tallying three steals.

Lincoln (1-16, 1-16 MIAA) led for much of the first quarter, including taking a 12-5 advantage with 5:13 to play in the period. Emporia State, which was ranked No. 25 in this week's Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division II poll, scored 11-straight points, including hitting three triples, to take the lead, but Haylie Holloway tied the game at 18 with a jumper. An old-fashioned three-point play led to a 21-18 advantage for the Lady Hornets after 10 minutes of play.

Holloway tied the score again by opening the second period with a trey, but Emporia State (13-4, 13-4 MIAA) rebounded to take a 46-35 lead into halftime. The Blue Tigers would get within four early in the third quarter, but the Lady Hornets used another big run to take a 62-46 lead with four minutes left in the period. It ended up being a 13-point ESU lead entering the final 10 minutes.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Blue Tigers, though, as Lincoln shot .520 from the field and .750 from three-point range to get back in the ballgame. A jumper by Aliyah Bello sparked LU onto a 9-0 run, and a pair of free throws by Bradley brought Lincoln to within 86-81 of the nationally-ranked Lady Hornets with 44 ticks left on the clock. After ESU made a pair of shots at the line on its next possession, Jackson made a quick three to pull LU to within four. Two more free throws by Emporia State resulted in the six-point difference in the final score.

Bello had 14 points, and Simone Jordan came off the bench to supply 11 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Holloway finished with five points and two boards, and Ashtin Ingram had two blocks to go with five points, six boards and a steal. 

Lincoln will play a rematch with Emporia State on Saturday (Feb. 13) in Jefferson City, as the Blue Tigers host the Lady Hornets at 1:00 p.m. CST. That game will be Senior Day for the Blue Tigers.