JEFFERSON CITY, TN – A new era of Lincoln Memorial University women’s basketball began on Friday evening under the helm of first-year coach Larry Just, although the end result was a 74-63 loss for the Lady Railsplitters. (Box score)

Lincoln Memorial traveled to Jefferson City, Tennessee, home of arch-rival Carson-Newman College and the 2007 Eagle Club Classic.  While the Lady Railsplitters did see their east Tennessee nemesis, it was the seventh-ranked Clayton State University that the LMU women were to play.

Throughout the preseason, the Lincoln Memorial University women’s basketball program has at times appeared as though it had a curse on it, as injuries have plagued the team.  On Friday evening, Clayton State squared off against a Lady Railsplitter squad that no where near 100% strength however, Lincoln Memorial gave as good as they got.

LMU led much of the first half and traded the lead with CSU numerous times before going into the locker room with a four point 37-33 deficit.  Perimeter shooting by junior Kara Harris (Alcoa, TN) and freshman Stephanie Wagner (Elkhart, IN) was an early key to the Lady Railsplitter’s first half success, along with only nine turnovers.

The Lady Railsplitters started the second half just as they ended the first however, in the final twenty minutes of play; Clayton State forced LMU into 14 second half turnovers which also held the Lady Railsplitters scoreless for more then five minutes late in the game.  CSU’s late game defensive effort eventually lifted them to a 74-63 win in the season-opener.

Wagner led the Lady Railsplitters in scoring with 20 points on 8-14 shooting, including 2-5 from behind the arc, while Harris finished the night with 12 points and was the only other LMU player in double figures.  Five players found double figures for Clayton State, led by Roberta Phillips who had 18.

The loss drops the Lady Railsplitters to 0-1 on the year as they prepare for Saturday’s final game of the Eagle Club Classic against North Georgia College & State University.  The LMU women will square off against NGC&SU at 4:00 p.m. in Holt Fieldhouse.