February 28, 2004

BOX SCORE

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Longwood dropped a 73-62 collegiate women’s basketball decision to Pittsburgh-Johnstown Saturday afternoon during the championship game of the Converse (S.C.) Tournament in South Carolina.  The game was the season finale for the Lancers, who close out the year with a 17-9 overall record.

Against UPJ, the first half featured three lead changes and three ties before the Mountain Cats pulled ahead 18-16 with 8:33 left in the half off a field goal to enter the intermission with a 33-28 advantage.  The second half featured more of the same, with five more ties and four additional lead changes.  Pitt.-Johnstown finally took the 59-57 lead and control of the game with 4:14 remaining.  The Cats outscored the Lancers 16-5 over the final minutes to secure the victory. 

Junior Marita Meldere/Rujiena, Latvia (Lynchburg Christian) paced the Lancers with her 15th double-double of the season of a team-best 22 points and 19 rebounds, while sophomore Amber Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) posted 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting and grabbed six rebounds. Senior Ebony Smith/Palmyra (Fluvanna Co.) also contributed 11 points and seven boards.  Longwood shot 31.9 percent (23-72) from the field, 22.7 percent (5-22) from beyond the arc, and 64.7 percent (11-17) at the line. 

Melissa Patterson led Pitt.-Johnstown with her game-high 24 points, while Samantha Conner chipped-in 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds.  The Mountain Cats shot 49.1 percent (26-53) from the floor, 33.3 percent (3-9) from three-point territory, and 78.3 percent (18-23) at the stripe.