HARTSVILLE, S.C. – A Qua Hines layup and two key free throws from Ross Mathis capped off a come-from-behind win that started with an 11-4 run and enabled the Lincoln Memorial University women's basketball team to escape the DeLoach Center with the 68-64 win Saturday afternoon. 

Hines had 17 points to lead LMU (15-10, 10-8 South Atlantic Conference) in scoring while Shea Coker chipped in 11 points. Mathis had eight points and a team-high six rebounds and five assists. 

For the game, LMU went 43.3 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from three-point range and 58.8 percent from the free throw line. They also out-rebounded Coker 39-29.

Hayley Kropp led the Cobras with 14 points, while Shay Jackson and Erin Houser chipped in 10 points apiece. Janea Williams led Coker with nine rebounds.

Coker shot 46.0 percent from the field, 27.3 percent from three-point range and 65.2 percent from the free throw line for the contest.

It was a fast paced game with a combined 148 possessions that featured four ties and eleven lead changes. Coker shot out to the early 7-0 lead only to see LMU tie it up at 9-9 on a three-pointer by Mathis. The Lady Railsplitters then went on a 5-0 run of their own only to see Coker tie the game at 14-14 with 59 seconds left. Hines then hit a jumper to give LMU the 16-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.

LMU again took a four point lead, only to see the Cobras slither back to take a four point lead of their own. The teams then traded baskets for the majority of the period until
Coker pulled ahead, 34-27, with 1:07 remaining in the half. A jumper by Dasia Maxwell cut the lead to 34-29 but Jackson hit a three-pointer as time expired to give Coker the 37-29 lead at the half.

The Cobras came out striking in the third period and shot out to a 14 point lead. LMU then began to methodically chip away at the lead, cutting it to 52-49 on a Kyndall Caudle three-pointer with 19 seconds left in the stanza.

The Lady Railsplitters opened the fourth quarter with an 11-4 run of their own to take the 60-56 lead. The teams swapped baskets, but Coker was unable to retake the lead as they cut it to one point on two occasions and eventually tied the game at 64-64 with 49 seconds left. On LMU's next possession, Hines hit the driving layup to take the 66-64 lead. 

???????Coker then turned the ball over and were forced to foul Mathis, who then hit the first of two free throws. The second free throw missed and Mathis gathered in the rebound and was fouled again. Once again she hit the first but missed the second, giving the Cobras a slim chance at tying the game on a made three-pointer and a free throw. 

After calling a timeout to advance the ball to the frontcourt, Coker then inbounded the ball to Elizabeth Kincaid, who attempted a three-pointer that was blocked by Mathis and rebounded by Hines as time expired and LMU held on for the 68-64 win.

Quick Hits
- LMU improves to 6-5 all-time vs. Coker. They are now 3-2 in Hartsville.

- The block at the end of the game by Mathis was the only the second this season and ninth of her career by the 5-4 senior guard. 

Up Next
LMU will return home for the final two games of the regular season. First up is third-ranked Carson-Newman on Wednesday. The Eagles enter the contest 25-1 overall and 17-1 in SAC play after beating Catawba 80-49 earlier today. Wednesday's game will be broadcast regionally on MyVLT.