January 28,
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University women’s basketball team extended its home winning-streak to four games with a 54-47 victory over visiting Texas-Pan American this evening at Willett Hall. The Lancers, who also improved to 9-9 on the season, were led by senior center/forward Marita Meldere/Rujiena, Latvia (Lynchburg Christian) who finished with 17 points and nine rebounds; both game-highs. The Lady Broncs, who dropped to 9-10 on the season, were led by Ashley Roberts with her 10 points, three assists, two rebounds and one steal. LU will be back in action tomorrow when they welcome Savannah State to Willett Hall. Game time is slated for 4:00 p.m.
Texas-Pan American controlled the early minutes of the first half scoring the first six points of the game. The Lancers cut the Lady Broncs lead to 8-4 on a layup by junior forward Ashley Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne), but a three-pointer by Dominique Montague pushed UTPA’s advantage to seven with 12:54 to play in the half. Senior center/forward Catherine Dunn/Aberdeen, N.J. (St. John Vianney) sank one free throw, while Meldere hit back-to-back layups to pull LU
Texas-Pan American pulled away from Longwood, building a nine-point lead, 25-16, with 5:01 remaining on the clock. The Lancers game began to click as they went on a 12-0 run to close out the first half. LU took its first lead, 26-25, with 1:57 remaining before intermission on two made free throws by Meldere. A jumper by Meldere closed out the half and gave the Lancers the slight 28-25 lead.
UTPA tied the game quickly into the second half off a layup by MaHogany Daniel and a free throw by Molly Schamel. LU answered with back-to-back three-pointers by sophomore guard Abigail Freese/West Liberty, Ohio (West Liberty-Salem) and junior guard Jessica Wilkerson/Roanoke (Northside). Texas-Pan American would not be out done, as they responded with back-to-back three-pointers by Roberts to tie the game for the second time in the second stanza.
With the score 40-40 with 7:30 remaining in the contest, the Lancers went on a 9-2 run to take a commanding 51-42 lead. The run was capped off on a three-pointer by Leigh Mascherin/Greensboro, N.C. (Ragsdale); her second of the night. Devin Reed of Texas-Pan American was able to convert a three-point play to cut the lead to six at the 2:36 mark, but Ashley Mason hit a layup with 45 seconds remaining, while Wilkerson hit one-of-two free throws to give the Lancers the seven-point edge.
Besides Meldere, who also added three assists and one steal, LU was led by Dunn and Ashley Mason. Dunn scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds, while Ashley Mason scored seven points and added six rebounds. Junior guard Amber Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) had an all-around solid game for the Lancers, scoring four points, grabbing seven rebounds, dishing out a team-high four assists and making three steals. Longwood shot 32.7% (18-55) from the field, including 29.4% (5-17) on three-pointers, and was 61.9% (13-21) from the charity stripe.
Along with Roberts, UTPA was also led by Schamel, who scored nine points, grabbed four rebounds, made one steal and blocked on shot. The Lady Broncs shot 31.4% (16-51) from the floor, including 25.8% (8-31) on three-pointers, and was 63.6% (7-11) from the free throw line.
