Charlotte, N.C. (February 28, 2018) – The Johnson C. Smith University women's basketball team dropped a 58-52 decision to the Northern Division No. 3 seeded Lincoln University in the quarterfinals of the 2018 CIAA Tournament at the Spectrum Center on Thursday afternoon.
Shahra Madison added the opening basket for Lincoln within the opening minutes to jump to a quick 2-0 lead. JCSU's Kendall Adams (Opelika, Ala.) answered by adding a layup to tie the score two all with 7:59 left in the opening quarter. Lincoln then added a layup to take a 4-2 advantage.

JCSU's Xena Dove (West Palm Beach, Fla.) secured a three-pointer to take a 5-4 edge. Lincoln then added back-to-back baskets collecting an 8-5 lead with 5:43 left on the clock.

JCSU's Jasmine Carter (Dacula, Ga.) added two free throws cutting the lead by one. The Lions then added a three-pointer by Shecquan Bailey growing its lead 11-7. JCSU then posted five points to take a 14-11 lead. The Lions answered with a layup by A. Paynes-Hightower to cut JCSU's lead 13-14 with 00:32 second left. Teira Pendleton secured a layup within the final seconds of the quarter to edge the Lions 15-14.
Although, Lincoln outscored the Golden Bulls (8-4) with points in the paint, and points off turnovers (5-0) JCSU held the edge in second chance points (4-0), and bench points (9-2). LUPA had five points off turnovers in the first quarter.

JCSU added one from the free throw line to tie the game 15 all. McKenzie Spencer then collected a three- pointer to edge the Lions 18-15. Michelle Fitzgerald then knocked down a three-pointer to grow LU's lead 20-16. The battle for the lead would then go back and forward. Carter would then ad a layup to come within one of the Lions at the 3:34 mark. The Lions then added a layup to grow its lead 23-20. Maiya Green (San Antonio, Tex.) then added two from the free throw line making the score 23-22. Jamia Johnson (Durham, N.C.) then secured the two free throws to take the 24-23 lead. JCSU would eventually take the 28-27 lead into the locker room. 

The game saw its last tie at the 5:30 mark of the fourth quarter with a layup by Adams making the score 47-47. Lincoln's Shecquan Bailey then ignited an 11-5 run with a on a three-pointer at the 2:15 mark to close out the contest with a 58-52 final score.
The Lions took the edge over JCSU 26-20 in fast break points; while shooting 44.7 percent (21-of-47) from the floor, 38.5 percent (5-of-13) from downtown, and 68.8 percent (11-of-16) from the candy stripe for the game.

JCSU closed out the game shooting only 31.1 percent (19-of-61) from the field, 18.8 percent (3-of-16) from behind the arc, and 61.1 percent (11-of-18) from the line. The Lions led by as much as six for the game and was led by Bailey with a game-high 22 points (7-of-11) and seven boards. McKenzie Spencer chipped in 10 points (3-of-6) in the victory.

Johnson C. Smith was led by Jasmine Carter's 14 points (5-of-16); while Asha Jordan (Monroe, N.C.) recorded 11 points (4-of-9). Kendall Adams added nine points and nine boards, respectively for JCSU.