February 12, 2005
BOX SCORE
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Longwood University earned a 58-39 women’s college basketball victory over host Savannah State in Savannah, Ga., Saturday afternoon. The Lancers, who improved to 11-12 on the season, were led by senior forward/center Marita Meldere/Rujiena, Latvia (Lynchburg Christian) who finished with her 11th double-double of the season. Meldere scored a season and game-high 25 points, while grabbing a game-high 17 rebounds; 11 of which were offensive. Nicole Hunter led the Lady Tigers (5-15) with her 11 points and 12 rebounds. LU will return to action when they welcome Virginia Union to Willett Hall, Monday, February 14. Game time is slated for 5:00 p.m.
Savannah State took the early 4-0 lead off of baskets by Hunter and Fana Walcott. Longwood stringed together a 16-7 run, which junior forward Ashley Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) capped off with a steal and layup, to take a 17-10 advantage with 8:36 to play in the first half.
The Lady Tigers cut the Lancers lead to three, 19-16, on a three-pointer by Kermetris Hill, but two layups by Meldere, a jumper by Wilkerson and two made free throws by Mason gave the Lancers a commanding 11-point lead with 2:12 left on the clock. Meldere scored her 14th point of the first stanza to help the Lancers go into the locker room with a 29-18 advantage.
Longwood, who held Savannah State scoreless for the first four minutes of the second half, built an 18-point lead at the 17:01 mark when Meldere converted a three-point play. SSU cut LU’s lead to 12 at 38-26, but a 15-6 run over a nine-minute span gave the Lancers a 53-32 cushion at the 5:43 mark. Longwood pushed its lead to 22, its largest of the game, when sophomore guard Abigail Freese/West Liberty, Ohio (West Liberty-Salem) nailed a three-pointer with 2:13 to play in the contest.
Meldere also added a game-high five blocks, two steals and two assists. Mason contributed 10 points, six boards, two steals and one block, while senior forward/center Catherine Dunn/Aberdeen, N.J. (St. John Vianney) finished with six points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists. The Lancers finished the game shooting 37.9% (25-66) from the field, including 12.5% (2-16) from behind the three-point arc, and hit 75.0% (6-8) of their free throws.
Besides Hunter, Walcott and Hill who both chipped in eight points also led the Lady Tigers. Walcott added three rebounds, four assists and six steals, while Hill added two rebounds, one assist and one steal. SSU finished the game shooting 27.8% (15-54) from the field, including 21.4% (3-14) of its three-pointers, and was 50.0% (6-12) at the charity stripe.
