November 15, 2003

BOX SCORE

West Chester, Pa.– Junior All-American candidate Marita Meldere (Rujiena, Latvia/Lynchburg Christian) scored 14 points in the first half and added 12 in the second, to lead all scorers as the Longwood University women’s basketball team grabbed its first win of the season over Millersville this afternoon 64-47 at the West Chester Alumni Classic in Hollinger Field House.

The Lancers defense controlled the opening minutes of the first half as they held the Marauders to just one basket in the first six minutes of action. After a five minute scoring drought, Millersville climbed to within six, but seven straight Lancer points gave Longwood a 30-18 advantage at the break.

Longwood came out strong in the second half, building the lead to 41-27 on an Abbey Freese (West Liberty, Ohio/West Liberty Salem) break-away lay-up, forcing Millersville to take a timeout. A couple of three-pointers after the timeout by junior Catherine Dunn (Aberdeen, N.J./St. John’s Vianney) and sophomore Jessica Wilkerson (Roanoke, Va./Northside) gave Longwood a 47-29 advantage and they never looked back.

"I think it was a great win for us starting out and beating a team of Millersville’s caliber," stated head coach Shirley Duncan after the victory. "We were really pleased with our defensive intensity. We have our work cut out for us tomorrow, but we are going to enjoy today."

Meldere’s totals for the game included 26 points, 12 rebounds and seven steals. Senior Ebony Smith (Palmyra, Va./Fluvanna) added eight points and five rebounds, while Dunn, Wilkerson, senior Erica Marcum (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington), and sophomore Amber Mason (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) chipped in six points each. Mason also led the Lancers with four assists. For the game, Longwood shot 34.9 percent from the floor, 65.2 percent from the free-throw line and tallied 44 rebounds.

The West Chester Alumni Classic concludes tomorrow with the Lancers taking on host West Chester at 3:00 p.m.