WICHITA, Kan. - The Lincoln women's basketball team took an early lead and held off a late run by Newman to win its MIAA opener, 70-67, on the road on Thursday night (Nov. 30).

Ashlyn Alloway led the Blue Tigers with 16 points and eight rebounds and had two blocks and two assists as well as a steal. AJ Bradley scored 10 points, grabbed three rebounds and posted a team-high three steals while Steph Torres provided nine points, a block, an assist and a steal.

Lincoln (4-2, 1-0 MIAA) broke an early 8-8 tie by scoring 10 consecutive points, highlighted by three-pointers from Biance Stocks and Tatiana Beaumont. The Blue Tigers ended the first quarter up 21-15, but Newman (1-6, 0-1 MIAA) rallied to cut its deficit down to 38-35 going into halftime. The Jets shot .415 from the field overall, but the Blue Tigers forced 19 turnovers, resulting in 15 points for LU. Lincoln also shot well at the line when it mattered, making seven of its nine free throw attempts in the fourth quarter.

The Jets briefly took a two-point lead early in the third, but Lincoln stormed back, breaking a 42-42 tie by going on a 10-2 run, with six of those points coming from Torres. Another triple by Beaumont put the Blue Tigers ahead 55-50 entering the final 10 minutes of the contest. Beaumont additionally had five rebounds and a steal while Stocks ended the night with nine points, two assists, two boards and a pair of takeaways. 

Newman started the fourth quarter hot, with an early three helping launch the Jets onto a 16-4 run. That put NU up by seven, but Alloway began the comeback for the Blue Tigers by hitting a jumper and then making two shots at the line. After Newman made a free throw, Alloway drove for a layup, and then Bradley tie the game with a pair of free throws. Bradley ended up scoring the game's next three points, and a three-point try at the buzzer by the Jets missed the mark, allowing Lincoln to win the first conference game of its final season as a member of the MIAA.

Saniya Simmons scored eight points, grabbed four rebounds and dished two assists to go with two steals. Hanne Nybo contributed six points and two rebounds while Imani Jones finished with five points and four boards. Heaven Shockley made a free throw and Kiara Cabrera and Alyssa McCarty each collected a rebound.

Lincoln continues its MIAA slate on Saturday (Dec. 2) by playing Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CST.