CLAREMORE, Okla. - Imani Jones and Hya Haywood combined to score 35 points, but a strong third quarter helped Rogers State beat the Lincoln women's basketball team, 79-71, on Thursday (Jan. 20).

Jones scored a team-high 19 points and grabbed three rebounds to go with a block, two steals and an assist. Haywood scored 16 and had two assists and a steal. Mercy Gonzalez was LU's next-leading scorer, as she finished with nine points, five boards, a block and a steal.

The two teams played fairly evenly in the first quarter, with a pair of free throws by Haywood giving Lincoln an 18-16 advantage at the end of the period. The second quarter belonged to the Blue Tigers, as Kylie Bernskoetter, Kelsey Mitchell and Jones scored on LU's first three possessions to put Lincoln ahead by eight. Bernskoetter ended the night with six points while Mitchell provided eight points, two boards and a steal.

A fast break layup by Gonzalez later in the period gave LU an 11-point cushion, and the Blue Tigers would twice lead by as many as 12 before taking a 38-31 advantage into halftime. The Blue Tiger lead would hold until late in the third quarter, however, as Rogers State (7-11, 3-9 MIAA) ended the period on a 17-2 run to enter the final stanza ahead, 56-49. Mitchell opened the fourth quarter by hitting a three-pointer, but Lincoln (5-12, 1-10 MIAA) would get no closer than within four points of the Hillcats the rest of the way.

Niyah Jackson dished four assists and pulled down five rebounds to go with four points, and Aliyah Bello collected three rebounds while Deija Jackson, who led LU with seven boards, chipped in four points. AJ Bradley also scored four points and Ayreona Carter closed the scoring with a free throw while registering a block and three boards.

Lincoln travels to Tahlequah, Okla. on Saturday (Jan. 22) to play Northeastern State at 1:30 p.m. CST.