FAYETTEVILLE, NC --Fayetteville State women's basketball showcased its defensive skills and balanced scoring Monday night, cruising to an 80-50 victory over Lincoln (PA) inside Capel Arena. The win pushes the Broncos to 11-2 overall and 5-1 in CIAA play, while the Lions fall to 2-14 and remain winless in the conference at 0-6.
The Broncos never trailed after a blistering first-quarter run and held Lincoln to just 15.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc (4-for-26). Fayetteville State's defense forced 25 turnovers and converted them into 25 points, setting the tone for a dominant performance.
Leading the charge was junior guard Talia Trotter, who delivered a near triple-double with 17 points, six rebounds, seven assists, and eight steals. Her relentless energy on both ends of the floor sparked the Broncos early and often. Kelis Carmon added 10 points, two blocks, and two steals, while KaNyah O'Neal chipped in seven points, four assists, and three steals, also grabbing two offensive boards that fueled second-chance opportunities.
Fayetteville State's depth was on full display, with the bench contributing 33 points. Nevaeh Colon provided a spark with eight points, including two timely three-pointers, and Amina Miles added six points and five rebounds in limited minutes.
Lincoln (PA) was led by Alaila Walker, who scored a team-high 16 points and knocked down three triples. Kaziah Akinniyi added 11 points and five rebounds, while Riley Holliday controlled the glass with eight boards to go along with eight points. Despite their efforts, the Lions struggled to find rhythm against Fayetteville State's aggressive defense, shooting just 31.6 percent from the field.
The Broncos set the tone early, erasing a brief 6-4 deficit with a 17-0 run in the first quarter, capped by a Colon three-pointer. Fayetteville State led 24-12 after the opening frame and never looked back, stretching the margin to 58-39 by the end of the third quarter. The Broncos dominated inside, scoring 40 points in the paint and cleaning up on the offensive glass with 13 rebounds that led to 10 second-chance points.
Fayetteville State also found success from deep, hitting nine three-pointers at a 34.6 percent clip. The Broncos finished the night shooting 45.3 percent overall and 81.3 percent from the free-throw line.
With the win, Fayetteville State remains near the top of the CIAA Southern Division standings and will look to keep its momentum rolling on the road. The Broncos travel to Charlotte, N.C., for a divisional showdown against Johnson C. Smith on Saturday, January 17 at 2:00 p.m.
