JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Lincoln women's basketball team held the lead for 26:45 of its final home game of 2025-26 and defeated Rockhurst, 70-61, on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 21).

Saturday was Senior Day, and the Blue Tigers recognized Isis Sanders, Kaleah Toran, Kennedy Jones and Laini Joseph in a post-game ceremony. Sanders scored 14 points to tie for second among the Blue Tigers and also tallied an assist and a steal. Toran ended the day with eight points, seven boards and a team-high five steals. Jones made a free throw, grabbed two rebounds and dished a pair of assists.

Rockhurst (7-17, 3-15 GLVC) opened the game on a 6-1 run, but two jumpers by Aaliyah Smith and a trey from Bella Borgos quickly gave Lincoln (5-21, 3-16 GLVC) a two-point lead. The Blue Tigers would end the first quarter with a 17-15 advantage, but the Hawks fought back to tie the game at 25 with five minutes left until halftime. Back-to-back treys by Sanders and Kiara Cabrera later gave LU a six-point lead, and the Blue Tigers entered the break on top, 33-30.

The Hawks refused to go away, however, as Rockhurst eventually took a 40-36 lead on a jumper at the 6:25 mark of the third quarter. Aaliyah Smith sparked a 10-0 run that was highlighted by triples from Hallie Williamson and Borgos, and free throws from Taelyn Smith put LU ahead 51-48 entering the final period.

Another three from Williamson restored Lincoln's six-point lead, but Rockhurst once again rallied to tie the score at 55 with 6:39 remaining. Aaliyah Smith broke the tie with a free throw and Sanders made back-to-back buckets to give LU five-point lead. The Hawks later got back within one, but could not tie the game, and Lincoln used an 8-0 run to close out the victory.

Lincoln ended the afternoon with a 51-46 advantage in rebounding, forced 11 turnovers, held the Hawks to .125 shooting from three-point range and received 39 points from its bench. That included 22 points from Borgos, who also had 14 rebounds, two assists and a steal. Aaliyah Smith also doubled up, finishing with 14 points, 11 boards, three blocks, a steal and an assist.

Cabrera led LU with three assists, blocked two shots and collected four rebounds. Williamson had three boards and a block to go with two assists, and Taelyn Smith closed out Lincoln with three rebounds, an assist and a takeaway.

The Blue Tigers wrap up their 2025-26 season on the road next Thursday (Feb. 26), as Lincoln travels to Rolla, Mo. to play Missouri S&T at 5:30 p.m. CST.