LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (January 31, 2007) – For the second consecutive game, the Lincoln University women's basketball team could not overcome a second-half double digit deficit and consequently it suffered a 78-71 defeat to Ramapo College at Manuel Rivero Hall Wednesday night.

Ramapo (5-15) scored 16 consecutive points during a four-minute stretch of the second half to break a seven-game losing streak. Lincoln (12-8) had its modest five-game home winning streak snapped. It was also Ramapo's sixth consecutive victory over Lincoln.

Freshman guard Shanice Nesmith paced Lincoln with 20 points. The other double figure scorers for Lincoln were senior Mary Rotimi (14 points, career-best tying 23 rebounds) and Asha Atkinson (15 points, seven steals). Tanina Cook, Elissa Jackson and Sharell McMillan scored six points each.

Ramapo guard Natasha Gross scored 24 points including a back-breaking 3-pointer with 1 minute, 35 seconds remaining as the shot clock was ticking toward zero that doubled the Roadrunners' advantage from 69-66 to 72-66. Keona Palmer added 17 points and seven rebounds. Stephanie Cannizzaro scored 11 points and Kelly Bartz added 10 points for Ramapo.

Like its defeat to Mitchell earlier in the week, Lincoln took a big chunk out of its 15-point deficit. Lincoln pulled to 68-66 with 90 seconds remaining against Mitchell. Against Ramapo, Lincoln closed to within, 67-66, with 2:33 remaining following Rotimi's layup. That would be as close as Lincoln would get. The Roadrunners scored nine straight points to open a 76-66 lead with 37 seconds remaining.

Lincoln took its last lead on an Atkinson layup with 14:57 remaining. It was all Ramapo from there. The Roadrunners' decisive scoring burst began and ended with a pair of Palmer foul shots with 14:39 remaining. Gross, Tiffany China and Gross scored three straight baskets to give Ramapo a 50-43 lead. After a Lincoln timeout and a pair of Beth Weinmann foul shots, Ramapo continued its assault on the basket. Gross made a 3-pointer and Lauren Moschel connected on a layup.

By the time McMillan scored for Lincoln to end Ramapo's run, the Lady Lions had gone 11 possessions and 3:34 without scoring. Lincoln quickly ripped off a 10-point flurry after trailing, 60-45 with 9:49 remaining. Each time Ramapo needed a big basket it got it down the stretch. Lincoln made it a one-possession game four times in the second half. Ramapo scored on its ensuing trip up the floor.

Lincoln sprinted to a 16-8 lead six minutes into the game before the Roadrunners found their groove to take a 39-36 lead into halftime.

Lincoln returns to action Tuesday night when it hosts Swarthmore at 7:00 p.m. Ramapo continues its road trip at the College of New Jersey in a conference contest (1:00 p.m.).