JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - For the first 20 minutes of the game, the Lincoln women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with GLVC-leading Drury, but the Panthers pulled away in the second half to hand the Blue Tigers a 68-47 loss on Thursday night (Jan. 9).

Drury (10-3, 6-0 GLVC) made a layup, Kaleah Toran answered with a three, and thus began a first half that featured four ties and six lead changes. A basket by Emma Wolken sprung LU onto a 7-0 run for an early 10-4 advantage, but the Panthers roared back to take a 15-14 lead with just under a minute to play. A trey by Wolken swung the advantage to the Blue Tigers, but a pair of late free throws allowed Drury to tie the game at 17 at the end of the opening quarter.

With 4:13 to play in the first half, Lincoln (1-11, 0-6 GLVC) tied the game at 27 on a layup by Isis Sanders, but Drury scored seven-straight points. Biance Stocks made two free throws to send the game into the break with the Panthers leading, 34-29. Stocks led LU with 17 points and collected six rebounds to go with three steals and an assist. Sanders added 11 points, two rebounds and an assist while Wolken finished with nine points, a board and a steal.

The second half was a different story, however, as the Panthers out-scored the Blue Tigers, 19-8, in the third quarter to take control of the contest. Despite trailing by as many as 21, Lincoln nearly clawed its way back into contention during the fourth quarter, beginning with a pair of free throws from Wolken. The Blue Tigers were hot at the line, shooting .813 while missing just three free throws all night. Drury controlled the glass with 50 rebounds to Lincoln's 35, though, and shot .413 from the field while holding LU to .246 shooting.

After Lyssa Sportsman grabbed a rebound, Stocks drained a three to pull Lincoln to within 59-42. Sanders followed with a three of her own, then hit a layup after Sportsman forced a steal to bring the Blue Tigers to within 12 entering the final five minutes of the ballgame. Drury tightened up defensively afterwards, however, and managed to escape Jason Gym with the win.

Sportsman ended the evening with two points, four boards, an assist and a steal while Toran provided three points, four rebounds, a steal and an assist. Hanne Nybo led LU with 10 rebounds and chipped in two points while Kiara Cabrera added two points and an assist. Cassidy Gladney made a free throw and rounded out Lincoln with two rebounds, a pair of steals and an assist.

Weather permitting, Lincoln will host Southwest Baptist on Saturday (Jan. 11) at 1:00 p.m. CST.