in Richardson title game
Tournament MVP Shanice Nesmith (Philadelphia, PA/University City) scored 19 of her game-high 25 points in the second half as the Lincoln University women’s basketball team broke open a halftime tie and went on to defeat Rutgers University-Camden, 76-59, in the championship game of the James A Richardson Tip-Off tournament here Saturday afternoon.
In the consolation game, Washington College defeated Rosemont College, 63-54.
In winning its first regular season tournament title since 2000, Lincoln improved to 2-0 and ended a four-game losing streak to the Scarlet Raptors, who dropped to 1-1. It was the fifth consecutive season Rutgers-Camden and Lincoln have met in a regular-season tournament. Unlike the previous four meetings, this was the first time both teams battled for a championship.
The two teams played to a 31-31 halftime tie before Lincoln outscored Rutgers-Camden, 45-28, in the second half. Nesmith, a freshman guard, scored 19 of the Lady Lions’ points to finish with a 25-point game in both tournament contests.
Nesmith sparked an 18-6 blitz midway through the second half by scoring 11 consecutive points. By the time Lincoln\'s run ended, the Lions\' slim 43-41 lead was a comfortable 61-47 margin with 8:09 remaining. Nesmith began her personal scoring binge with a 3-pointer. She added a pair of layups, two foul shots and a short jumper.
Lincoln senior Mary Rotimi (Philadelphia, PA/Frankford) also had a strong game, recording her 23rd career double-double by scoring 18 points and grabbing 18 rebounds.
Rotimi joined Nesmith on the all-tournament team along with Rutgers-Camden junior guards Imani Hafiz (Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Regional) and Krystal Jankowski (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling), Washington College freshman Jane O\'Donnell (Cape May Courthouse, NJ/Wildwood Catholic) and Rosemont senior Katie Linder (Philadelphia, PA/St. Basil Academy).
Rutgers-Camden started quickly by racing to a 15-6 lead seven minutes into the game. However, the Lady Lions battled back behind Rotimi, who had 11 points and 11 rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. Lincoln scored the final six points of the first half to force a 31-31 halftime score.
Rutgers-Camden junior forward Jennifer Christy (Malaga, NJ/Delsea Regional) scored off a feed from Hafiz to begin the second half. On Lincoln\'s next possession down the floor, senior Latoya Milstrey (Union, NJ/Union) sank a three-pointer to give the Lady Lions the lead for good, 34-33 with 19:27 remaining.
Hafiz had another solid game by scoring 17 points, grabbing nine rebounds and making four steals. Senior forward Karen Carter (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) paced the Scarlet Raptors with 21 points and added eight rebounds. Jankowski grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds for the second straight day.
For Lincoln, freshman Chanelle Harris (Yeadon, PA/Penn Wood) registered seven assists for the second consecutive game. Junior Asha Atkinson (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) notched 10 points. Sophomore Tanina Cook (Landover, MD/Charles H. Flowers) grabbed 10 rebounds for the Lady Lions.
The Lady Raptors return to action Tuesday with a 6 p.m. non-conference game at Valley Forge Christian College.