January 29, 2005
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University women’s basketball team defeated visiting Savannah State University 84-55 this afternoon at Willett Hall. The Lancers, who improved to 10-9 on the season, were led by junior guard Jessica Wilkerson/Roanoke (Northside) who scored a season-high 20 points, dished out six assists, grabbed four rebounds and had one steal. The Lady Tigers, who dropped to 4-12 on the season, were led by Kermetris Hill with her 24 points, two rebounds and one steal. LU will be back in action when they travel into North Carolina for a contest against UNC Asheville Wednesday, February 2. Game time is slated for 7:00 p.m.
Savannah State scored the first bucket of the game, but it was all Longwood after that. The Lancers went on a 25-4 run over a span of seven minutes to hold an impressive 25-6 lead. Sophomore guard Abigail Freese/West Liberty, Ohio (West Liberty-Salem), Wilkerson and junior forward Amber Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) all hit three-pointers during the run.
The Lady Tigers cut the Lancers lead to seven, 31-24, at the 6:31 mark after Hill sank one of her six three-pointers on the night. LU buckled down and closed out the first-half with a 9-5 run to hold a 43-29 edge.
Longwood quickly pulled away from Savannah State in the second half. With the score 52-35 at the 15:47 mark, the Lancers went on an 31-14 run to take a commanding 34-point lead at the 3:34 mark. Freshman forward Leigh Mascherin/Greensboro, N.C. (Ragsdale) hit three three-pointers over that span for LU. The Lady Tigers could not recover, as the Lancers earned the 29-point victory; their largest of the season.
Besides Wilkerson, the Lancers were led by senior forward/center Marita Meldere/Rujiena, Latvia (Lynchburg Christian) who finished with her 10th double-double of the season, scoring 16 points and grabbing a game-high 19 rebounds. Amber Mason added 15 points, a game and career-high nine assists, and six rebounds. Longwood shot 55.4% (31-56) from the field, including 47.8% (11-23) on three-pointers, and was 61.1% (11-18) from the charity stripe.
Nicole Hunter and Caroline Moore, who score 12 and 10 points respectively, also led the Lady Tigers. Savannah State shot 31.4% (22-70) from the field, including 28.6% (8-28) on three-pointers, and hit 30.0% (3-10) of its free throws.
