Box Score Jefferson City, Mo. - The Missouri S&T Lady Miners had a tough go of things at Lincoln University, but came out of Jason Gym with a 58-55 win on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Miners led throughout the contest and were able to hang on for the victory despite turning the ball over 30 times.

S&T (6-3) got off to a great start at both ends of the floor racing out to an early 14-3 lead while holding the Blue Tigers (1-7) to just one field goal in the opening 10 minutes of the contest.

After seeing its lead cut to 21-13 at the 5:39 mark S&T went on a 7-0 run getting six points from the bench to build its largest lead of the night at 15 points.

Lincoln begin to cut into the lead again scoring six straight to get within 28-19 but Maria Bratcher (St. Louis, Mo./Jennings ) hit 1-of-2 at the foul line with 0:07 left to send the Lady Miners into the break with a 29-19 advantage.

The Lady Miners were solid on the defensive end in the frame limiting Lincoln to just 31 percent shooting (6-of-19) from the field forcing 20 turnovers, 12 steals, but the offense turned it over 16 times in the frame allowing the Blue Tigers to stay within striking distance.

S&T made only 10-of-25 (40 percent) from the floor in the frame but connected on 80 percent (8-of-10) at the charity stripe and were led in scoring by Lydia Karlefors (Sunderbyn, Sweden/Lulea Basketgymnasium) with six while Jenny Dorman (Pella, Iowa/Pella) and Tamara McCaskill had five apiece.

The first 10 minutes of the second half belonged to the Lady Miners who extended their lead to 46-32 before watching Lincoln climb back into the game with a 9-0 behind six points from Ashley Norris and an old fashioned three-point play from Cherika Ramsey to get within five at the 8:20 mark.

A three-pointer by Dorman and pair of McCaskill free throws pushed the lead back to 10 before Ramsey answered back with a pair of buckets to cut the deficit back to six.

Katie McElrath (Owasso, Okla./Owasso) scored S&T's final basket from the field at the 3:58 mark extending the lead back to eight points. After Lincoln cut it back to six Kylee Grant (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) made a pair at the line to give the Lady Miners back their eight point advantage with 3:25 to play.

The Blue Tigers began their final push getting a lay-up by LaKeesha Pace to get within six and then Pace had a chance to draw them closer almost a minute later but made just 1-of-2 at the charity stripe with 2:18 to play cutting it to five.

After a couple of turnovers and a missed shot by Grant, Lincoln had another opportunity to close the margin but Paris Campbell missed a pair of free throws with a little over a minute to play.

S&T was unable to hold onto the ball though turning it over again and a jumper by Campbell and McElrath's fifth foul and ensuing technical foul gave the Blue Tigers a chance to tie the game with 0:35 put Ramsey made only one of the technical shots and then Campbell missed her free throw leaving the score at 55-53.

Grant was able to give the Lady Miners a two possesion lead back knocking down a pair of free throws with 0:28 remaining but a lay-up by Ramsey on the next possesion cut it back to two.

Lincoln was forced to foul and fouled Jazmine Bell (Euclid, Ohio/Euclid) who missed the first but made the second to give S&T a 58-55 lead with 0:16 left.

The Blue Tigers had one last chance to tie and force overtime but Ramsey's three-point attempt at the buzzer fell considerably short allowing the Lady Miners to escape with the win.

S&T made only 8-of-17 from the field in the frame and turned it over 14 times but was 11-of-15 including a perfect 8-for-8 from McCaskill and Grant to secure the victory.

After its poor shooting in the first half Lincoln connected on 15-of-26 from the floor (58 percent) and turned the 14 Lady Miner turnovers into 12 points. The difference in the game though was the Blue Tigers struggles at the foul line as they made only 43 percent (6-of-14) in the frame and finished the game 13-of-24 (54 percent).

McCaskill led all scorers with a game-high 13 points. Bell finished with nine, McElrath, Dorman and Karlefors each had eight while Grant finished with seven (all in the second half).

Norris and Ramsey finished with 12 each for Lincoln while Campbell had 10.

S&T returns to action Tuesday evening December 30th hosting Westminster (Mo.) College beginning at 7 p.m. at Billy Key Court.