November 16, 2003

BOX SCORE

West Chester, Pa. – The Longwood University women’s basketball team suffered its first loss of the season this afternoon, falling to host West Chester 60-50 at the West Chester Alumni Classic in Hollinger Field House. With the loss, the Lancers stand at 1-1 while the Golden Rams improve to 1-1.

Both teams struggled in the opening minutes of action with each team turning the ball over four times in the first three minutes. After trading baskets most of the half, freshman Ashleigh Hollman’s (Centreville, Va./Westfield) three-pointer gave the Lancers a four point lead at the seven minute mark. West Chester’s Carolyn Muldoon evened the score at 20 after a break-away lay-up. Another Hollman three-pointer and a bank shot from senior Ebony Smith (Palmyra, Va./Fluvanna) helped build Longwood’s lead to seven with less than four minutes left before the break. West Chester quickly scored two back-to back baskets to tie the game at 27 at the half.

West Chester came out fired up after the break, scoring off of three-straight Longwood turnovers. The Golden Rams went on a 23-6 run and built the lead to 50-35 with 12 minutes to go. Longwood would come as close as six as sophomore Amber Mason (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) hit a 12-ft. jumper at the 3:50 mark, but was stopped short of a victory.

Junior All-American candidate Marita Meldere (Rujiena, Latvia/Lynchburg Christian) poured in her second-straight double-figure scoring performance to lead Longwood with 12 points, earning all-tournament honors. Senior Erica Marcum (Charleston, W.Va./George Washington) added 11, while three Lancers scored six points each. Longwood was held to a .332 shooting effort and was outrebounded 39-36. West Chester was lead by junior Keisha Mack with 19 points.

Longwood plays its first home game of the season on Tuesday against Lenoir-Rhyne at 7 p.m. in Lancer Hall.