HARROGATE, Tenn. – A pair of free throws from senior Emily Griffith with 2.2 seconds remaining proved to be the difference as the Lincoln Memorial University women's basketball team pulled out the 76-75 win over Tusculum Wednesday evening in the Tex Turner Arena and extend their winning streak to five games.

LMU (11-6, 7-3 South Atlantic Conference) had rolled out to a 15-point lead in the first quarter, only to see the Pioneers (12-5, 5-5 SAC) fight their way back and eventually lead by eight points halfway through the fourth quarter. The Lady Railsplitters rallied back and after six lead changes over the next four minutes took a 74-73 lead with 21 seconds remaining. The Pioneers then called a timeout and Yolizma Cupidan took the inbounds, drove around a defender and hit a driving layup with 4.3 second left.

LMU called a timeout to advance the ball and Sydney Newsome inbounded the ball to Emily Griffith, who appeared to miss the shot, but was fouled by Lovely Locklear with 2.2 second left. Emily then hit both free throws, the 820th and 821st points of her career, to steal away the win.

Emily Griffith led the Lady Railsplitters with 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Her twin sister Rachel was close behind with 18 points, three assists and two steals. Maggie Jachimczuk had eight points and a game-high six rebounds.

The Pioneers out-shot LMU from the field 50.0%-47.5% from the field and hit a ridiculous 13 three-pointers at a 48.1% clip, while LMU went 45.5% from behind the arc. LMU did fare better than TU at the free throw line, going 75.0% (15-20) to Tusculum's 66.7% (6-9). They also out-rebounded the Pioneers by a 34-30 margin.

LMU used a 13-3 run to build a 10-point lead midway through the first period. They would extend their lead to 14 following a Newsome free throw but back to back Pioneer baskets cut the lead to 10 at the end of the quarter.

Jordan Maney grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back, followed soon afterward by a three-pointer by Jachimczuk to give LMU the 32-17 lead with 8:11 left in the first half. The Pioneers then started hitting from long range, hitting three-pointers on four of their next six possessions, to cut the lead to 35-32 with 3:29 remaining. A three-pointer by TU's Jalia Arnwine a couple of minutes later cut the lead to four, but a layup and free throw by Jachimczuk with 21 seconds left gave the Lady Railsplitters the 41-34 lead at the half.

The Pioneers adjusted their game plan in the third quarter and started working the ball inside to senior Kendrea Duke, who scored 10 of her team-high 16 points in the third stanza. Tusculum would tie the game twice before going on a 7-2 run to take the 50-45 lead. LMU fought back to take the lead and the teams traded baskets before Locklear hit a three as time expired to give TU the 55-53 lead heading into the final quarter.

Tusculum would come out in the fourth period and outscore LMU 11-5 to grab the 66-58 lead with 5:58 remaining before LMU would rally back and eventually claim the win.

"I'm proud of the fact that, in a game like this, when you lose the lead – a lot of teams would have given up," said Coach Krystal Evans. "A team that hits thirteen threes normally is going to pull out the win. I'm proud that our players didn't give up and we were able to pull it out against a very good and very well coached Tusculum team."

Duke led the Pioneers with 16 points, while Callie Patterson chipped in 14 points and Arnwine added in 12 points. Cupidan scored 11 points and had a team-high five assists.

Up Next
LMU will travel to Coker for a 2 p.m. Saturday SAC matchup with the Cobras. The Lady Railsplitters won the earlier meeting this season in Harrogate by a 76-66 margin.

Quick Hits
- LMU improves to 44-29 all-time vs. the Pioneers and 26-11 in Harrogate.

- The 13 three-pointers by Tusculum tie for the third-most treys in a game by an LMU opponent. Flagler had 13 in the season opener back in November. Tusculum and King are tied for the most with 15 as both hit that many in the 2011-12 season.