Cheyney and Lincoln Universities are preparing to meet in the Battle of the Firsts ....The Basketball Edition on December 9 in Cope Hall Gymnasium on the campus of Cheyney University. This is the first time in over a decade that the games will be not be played on a neutral site. The past couple of years the game has been played at various sites in Philadelphia.
The double header tips at 4:30 pm as the Lady Wolves and Lions take to the hardwood. The men’s game will follow. Officials are expecting the contest to be sold out and are encouraging fans to arrive early and purchase tickets on-line to ensure that get a seat. For tickets and additional information log onto the Cheyney athletic website at cheyneywolves.com.
Over the last 21 meetings, the Cheyney men own a 15-6 advantage. Meanwhile, the Lady Wolves are proud owners of a 19-2 record over the Lady Lions in the past 21 years.
If you can't make it to Cope Hall to watch the exciting HBCU/Division II contests, you can log onto redzonemedia.com and listen to Cheyney student Josh Hughes call all of the action.
Last Year (Men): Cheyney University (0-1) fell in the Battle of the Firsts…the Basketball Edition 65-56 to Lincoln (1-3) in the Wolves season opener. Brandon Baylor and Jason Sabb paced the Wolves with 21 and 20 points respectively.
The game was a see-saw battle in the first half with neither team owning more than a four point lead. Early in the second half the Lions built up a five point lead but the Wolves would cut the deficit to two. After Anthony Juene drained a three pointer from the top of the key the Wolves found themselves down three with 8:24 remaining. The Lions would then go on a 7-1 run to extend the lead to seven with 6:40 to play. The Lions would extend the lead to 10 with just over a minute to play before the Wolves went on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to four with :54 second to play. Lincoln would score the final five points of the game to secure the win.
The Lincoln victory snapped a four game skid against their cross county rival. Over the last 21 meeting Cheyney owns a 15-6 advantage.
Last Year (Women): Seventeen points and seven rebounds by freshman Aerie DeJesus was not enough as Cheyney (0-2) fell 55-50 to Lincoln (3-1) in the Battle of the Firsts…the Basketball Edition. It was only the second time in the past 21 years the Lions defeated the Lady Wolves on the hardwood during the holiday classic.
“We are still a very young team and the young ladies are still getting to now one another,” commented Head Coach Marilyn Stephens.
After shooting poorly in the first half (9-33 .27%) the Lady Wolves only found themselves down six, 31-25 at intermission. Brooke Garrett paced the Lady Wolves in the first twenty minutes scoring eight points while grabbing four rebounds. Cheyney was a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe in the first half and out-rebounded Lincoln including 12 on the offensive end.
In the second half Lions were able to extend the lead to nine before the Lady Wolves come back began. Trailing 41-32, Cheyney went on a 13-1 run capped by a Nadirah Brown lay-up with 5:11 to play. DeJesus scored eight of the Lady Wolves points during the run. After Garrett made 1-2 free throws the game was knotted at 48 with 2:44 to play. Lincoln would score five answered points over the next two minutes before DeJesus cut the lead down to three with :45 seconds remaining. The Lady Wolves were able to force a turnover but a three pointer was off the mark and Cheyney was forced to foul. Lincoln converted the pair of free throws for the final margin.
Cheyney continued to struggle from the field in the second half shooting 9-35. The Lady Wolves did win the battle of the boards out-rebounding the Lady Lions 48-40.
Series History (Men)
November 30, 1991 Cheyney 71 Lincoln 69
November 29, 1992 Lincoln 67 Cheyney 63
November 28, 1993 Lincoln 68 Cheyney 65
November 27, 1994 Cheyney 77 Lincoln 75
November 25, 1995 Cheyney 81 Lincoln 67
November 30, 1996 Cheyney 85 Lincoln 72
November 29, 1997 Cheyney 102 Lincoln 93
November 28, 1998 Cheyney 87 Lincoln 82
November 29, 1999 Cheyney 89 Lincoln 65
November 25, 2000 Cheyney 71 Lincoln 51
November 24, 2001 Cheyney 79 Lincoln 74
November 30, 2002 Cheyney 99 Lincoln 56
November 29, 2003 Cheyney 86 Lincoln 81
November 27, 2004 Lincoln 77 (OT) Cheyney 75
November 27, 2005 Lincoln 81 Cheyney 71
November 25, 2006 Lincoln 103 Cheyney 95
December 15, 2007 Cheyney 69 Lincoln 57
December 13, 2008 Cheyney 85 Lincoln 78 (OT)
January 31, 2010 Cheyney 76 Lincoln 74
November 26, 2011 Cheyney 63 Lincoln 38
November 19, 2011 Lincoln 65 Cheyney 56
Series History (Women)
November 30, 1991 Cheyney 94 Lincoln 33
November 29, 1992 Cheyney 100 Lincoln 27
November 28, 1993 Cheyney 87 Lincoln 41
November 27, 1994 Cheyney 82 Lincoln 49
November 25, 1995 Cheyney 68 Lincoln 46
November 30, 1996 Cheyney 65 Lincoln 50
November 29, 1997 Cheyney 61 Lincoln 56
November 28, 1998 Cheyney 66 Lincoln 58
November 29, 1999 Cheyney 73 Lincoln 66
November 25, 2000 Cheyney 60 Lincoln 53
November 24, 2001 Cheyney 67 Lincoln 41
November 30, 2002 Cheyney 68 Lincoln 59
November 29, 2003 Cheyney 97 Lincoln 72
November 27, 2004 Cheyney 72 Lincoln 28
November 27, 2005 Cheyney 40 Lincoln 32
November 25, 2006 Cheyney 77 Lincoln 50
December 15, 2007 Cheyney 82 Lincoln 66
December 13, 2008 Cheyney 62 Lincoln 56
January 31, 2010 Lincoln 62 Cheyney 52
November 26, 2010 Cheyney 72 Lincoln 62
November 19, 2011 Lincoln 55 Cheyney 50
