Lakewood, N.J.- Hoping for some of the same high-energy that pushed them to victory in their home-opener on Saturday, the Georgian Court University women's basketball squad short-circuited Thursday evening as the Lions fell to Lincoln University, 62-58, in the GCU Wellness Center.

In an offensively-challenged first half, the visiting Lady Lions took a 12-8 lead with 10:47 to go until intermission, courtesy of a Courtney Lucas (Jr.-Washington, D.C.) layup. A Lisa Saunders (So.-Hampton, Va.) three-ball with 26 ticks remaining gave Lincoln a stanza-high 12-point advantage (29-17) and concluded a 17-9 run for the Lady Lions.

After taking the break to review its first-half trumpery, the home team came to life in the second frame. After a Lincoln three-pointer from Cynthia Johnson (Sr.-Baltimore, Md.) eight seconds in (19:52) increased the lead to 13 points (34-21), GCU mounted a flourish of a comeback and cut the deficit to two points after a 14-3 run, capped by a Tara Steakin three-point hoop with 12:08 remaining.

The Lady Lions proceeded to build their lead back to five points on two seperate occasions, but Georgian Court refused to go away. A Tahira Matthews free throw with 8:15 to go tied the affair at 43-43. Matthews then immediately collected a steal and subsequent layup, providing GCU its first lead of the game (45-43) with 7:52 left.

A pair of Steakin free throws at 5:30 left had the Lions feeling pretty good, up 52-47. GCU's feline counterpart would not go down without a fight as a Zephrah Pam (Jr.-Syracuse, N.Y.) layup with 0:58 left completed a ten-point swing and 14-4 run, putting Lincoln ahead for good at 61-56.

Johnson headlined the Lincoln offense with a team-high 11 points, seven steals, and five assists in 35 minutes. Lucas dropped in ten points of her own in 20 minutes off the Lady Lions' bench. Amani Clark (So.-Middletown, Del.) led the glass attack for Lincoln with a team-high five boards.

Matthews carried Georgian Court all evening with a 23-point, 10-rebound effort in 28 minutes, good enough for her second double-double in five games to start the season. Ashiri Broadwater snared eight rebounds in 19 minutes, while both Brittany Baker and Keosha Parks each dished a team-high four assists.

The Lady Lions outshot GCU, 33.3%-27.9% from the floor. Georgian Court won the battle on the boards (51-to-42) and at the charity stripe (78.6% to 59.1%).

Georgian Court returns to action Tuesday evening with a CACC home contest vs. Goldey-Beacom College at 6:00 p.m.