JOPLIN, Mo. - Niyah Jackson scored 18 points, leading four members of the Lincoln women's basketball team in double figures, but Missouri Southern eked by the Blue Tigers for a 70-65 win on Thursday evening (Feb. 4).

Jackson also had a team-high five steals, grabbed four rebounds and dished three assists, while Aliyah Bello and AJ Bradley each scored 13. Bello had three rebounds, and Bradley notched two steals. Simone Jordan also finished in double-digits, chipping in 11 points while grabbing seven rebounds.

The game was close all night, with seven lead changes and six ties. Missouri Southern (7-9, 7-9 MIAA) held a 16-12 lead after the first quarter, but Lincoln (1-14, 1-14 MIAA) used a 10-run late in the second period to take a three-point lead at the 3:49 mark. The Lions ended up closing the gap to one, as the Blue Tigers went into halftime holding a 28-27 advantage.

The third quarter belonged to the Lions, as MSSU shot .500 from the field and .600 from long distance to take a 50-40 lead into the final 10 minutes. Lincoln wasn't ready to call it a night, however, as Jackson opened the final period with a three before Bradley made a couple free throws to cut the deficit down to five. A jumper by Jordan with 2:28 to play pulled LU to within 61-59, but Missouri Southern scored the next six points to take back control of the contest.

MSSU led by as many as nine late in the fourth, but Lincoln used one final run to pull within 69-65 on a Bradley free throw with nine ticks left on the clock. The Blue Tigers ended up forcing 24 turnovers on the evening, and LU shot .412 during the final period to make the contest a close affair.

Vivian Chigbu led Lincoln with eight rebounds and scored six points, and Ashtin Ingram collected six rebounds to go with three blocks. Haylie Holloway closed the scoring with four points, two boards and a pair of assists, and Kiara Cadore had a rebound.

Lincoln remains on the road on Saturday (Feb. 6), playing Pittsburg State in Pittsburg, Kan. at 1:30 p.m. CST.