WARRENSBURG - The short-handed Lincoln Blue Tigers kept it close for most of Wednesday night's game at Central Missouri, but the Jennies pulled away early in the third quarter to win 77-58 in women's basketball action.
The Blue Tigers got off to a good start, leading 6-3 after a pair of free throws by Alecia Gulledge.
Zhanesha Dickerson closed out the first-quarter scoring with a jumper to cut the Jennies' lead to 14-12.
The Jennies slowly built their lead in the second quarter, making it 31-22 after a Megan Skaggs jumper with 1:49 on the clock and closing out the half with a three-point play by Morgan Fleming for a 37-27 advantage.
The Blue Tigers got back to within seven thanks to a 3-pointer by Dickerson in the first minute of the third quarter, but the Jennies had a 12-0 run later in the quarter for a 54-35 lead.
UCM (11-4, 4-3 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) led 63-40 by the end of the third quarter.
Bre Coleman paced the Blue Tigers, who had six available players, with 17 points and eight rebounds. Alecia Kaelke added 13 points before fouling out and Gulledge had 11.
Skaggs finished with a double-double for the Jennies, totaling 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Lincoln (9-6, 1-5 MIAA) will face Southwest Baptist at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Bolivar.