Washington era begins with a win

The Janice Washington era at Lincoln University got off to a rousing start as the Lions opened the season with a 71-56 victory over Millersville in the second game of the CIAA/PSAC Challenge Friday at Manuel Rivero Gymnasium.

POST GAME PRESSER

It was the first home game in 646 days for the Lions and they didn't disappoint the 1,975 fans that packed the gym.

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA - Freshman point guard Ciani Montgomery (Philadelphia, Pa./West Catholic Prep) simultaneously burst on the scene as the Washington-era kicked off. With a former point guard as her head coach, a lot was put on her plate from the outset – and she ate all the morsels leaving little behind. Montgomery was efficient from the floor, shooting 6-of-8 from the field for a team-high 13 points. She padded the stat book with four rebounds, four steals and two assists.

Tough, physical defense was the highlight of the night as Lincoln took control of the game midway through the first quarter. The Lions held Millersville without a field goal for the final 6:31 of the first quarter and the first 1:30 of the second quarter. By the time the Marauders snapped their field goal less streak, the gym was rocking and the Lincoln lead was 15 points.

Five different players in that 14-1 run with senior Bryanna Brown (New York, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) accounting for six of those points.

After taking a 13-point lead into the half, Lincoln busted out of the locker room to score nine straight points to claim a game-high 23-point lead.

Lincoln led by 20 points at the end of the third quarter, and didn't see its lead fall below 15 points in securing the victory.

Twelve different players scored in the game with Montgomery as the lone player in double figures. Brown finished with seven points and a tied for the team-high with eight rebounds. Senior Kryshell Gordy (Chester, Pa./Ursuline Academy (Del.)) also pulled down eight boards. Junior Shakira Edwards (Newark, N.J./Bloomfield Tech) and freshman De'Aisjah Somerville both tallied seven points in the win.

Lincoln finished with 14 assists on its 27 baskets with eight players recording an assist. Brown and junior Jade Young (Philadelphia, Pa./Abington Friends School) recorded three assists each.

Lincoln (1-0) returns to the court 6 p.m. Saturday, hosting Kutztown in the final game of the CIAA/PSAC Challenge.

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Lincoln University, the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College and University (HBCU), educates and empowers students to lead their communities and change the world. Lincoln offers a rigorous liberal arts education to a diverse student body of approximately 2,200 men and women in more than 35 undergraduate and graduate programs.