December 7, 2004
BOX SCORE
Moon Township, Pa. – Longwood University dropped a 66-54 women’s basketball decision to Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pa. Tuesday evening at the Charles L. Sewall Center. The Colonials (4-2) were led by Sugiery Monsac who scored a game-high 31 points, including 23 in the second half, and Jenna Burkett who added 17 points. The Lancers (3-4) were led by junior guard Ashley Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) who scored a team-high 13 points. Longwood will be back in action when they welcome High Point University to Willett Hall Thursday, December 9. Game time is slated for 7:00 p.m..
Longwood, who controlled the first half, built a 12-8 lead at the 15:56 mark. Senior forward Marita Meldere/Rujiena, Latvia (Lynchburg Christian) led the charge for the Lancers scoring six of their 12 points. Monsac and Burkett both scored for RMU to tie the game at 12, but a 12-2 run by Longwood gave the Lancers a 10-point lead with a little over seven minutes to play in the first stanza.
The Colonials cut the score to 24-22 at 2:51, but a made layup by Ashley Mason and a three-pointer by freshman guard Keiva Small/Norfolk (Norview) gave the Lancers a small cushion at 29-22. Two free throws by RMU’s DeSheyna Perry with 14 seconds left cut Longwood’s lead to four, but Small hit a last second three-pointer to help the Lancers go into the locker room with the 33-26 advantage.
Robert Morris came out strong in the second half, scoring 10 straight points to take the lead at 36-33. Burkett started the run for the Colonials draining two-straight three-pointers to open the half. The Lancers tied the game at 42-42, but RMU scored 18 out of the games next 27 points to hold a nine-point lead at 60-51. Monsac was dominated over that period scoring 14-straight points for the Colonials. The Lancers could not get any closer as the Colonials earned the 12-point victory.
Besides Ashley Mason, the Lancers had two other players score in double-figure points. Small finished with 11 points, while junior forward Amber Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) added 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists and made five steals. Meldere chipped in nine points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. The Lancers finished the game shooting 44.9% (22-49) from the floor, including 62.5% (5-8) from behind the three-point arc, and was 45.5% (5-11) from the charity stripe.
The Colonials finished the game shooting 48.1% (26-54) from the floor, including 42.9% (6-14) on three-pointers and was 66.7% (8-12) from the line.
LANCER NOTE: Meldere became the first women’s basketball player in Longwood’s history to grab 1,000 rebounds. The 6-0 forward needed two rebounds against the Colonials to gain 1,000. She finished with 11 and now currently holds the LU career record for total rebounds with a total of 1,009. In turn, Meldere also becomes the first women’s basketball player at Longwood to score over 1,000 points and grab over 1,000 rebounds in their career. She currently totals 1,265 points.
