February 24, 2005
BOX SCORE
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Longwood University dropped a 73-67 women’s college basketball game to host Jacksonville State Thursday evening. The Lancers, who fell to 14-13 on the season, were led by senior forward/center Marita Meldere/Rujiena, Latvia (Lynchburg Christian) who finished with 16 points and nine rebounds; both game-highs. Rebecca Haynes led the Gamecocks with her 15 points and three rebounds. LU will close out the season when they welcome Southern Virginia University to Willett Hall, Saturday, February 26. Game time is slated for 4:00 p.m.
Longwood controlled the early minutes of the game, building a 22-7 lead at the 12:26 mark. Meldere scored eight points to help the Lancers build the 15-point lead, while junior forward Amber Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) capped off the impressive start draining a three-pointer. Jacksonville State went on a 17-7 run over the next six minutes to cut LU’s lead to five at 29-24, but a three-pointer by junior guard Jessica Wilkerson/Roanoke (Northside) and a jumper by Meldere gave the Lancers back a double-digit lead at 34-24. The Gamecocks closed out the half outscoring the Lancers 14 to 11 to cut LU’s halftime lead to 40-38.
Longwood started off the second stanza scoring two-straight baskets to push its advantage to six points, but Jacksonville State went on a 13-1 run to take a six-point lead of its own at 51-45 with 13:53 to play in the contest. The Lancers cut the lead to 53-51 on two made free throws by freshman guard Keiva Small/Norfolk (Norview) at the 11:00 mark. Freddricka Embry of JSU scored two straight buckets to give the Gamecocks the 57-51 lead. LU again cut the score to two at 63-61 on a layup by junior forward Ashley Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne), but Jacksonville State sank 10 free throws down the stretch to keep Longwood at bay and earn the six-point victory.
Beside Meldere, who also added three assists, one block and one steal, the Lancers had three other players finish in double-digit points. Ashley Mason and Amber Mason both chipped in 13 points, while Wilkerson had 12. Longwood finished the game shooting 38.6% (27-70) from the field, including 35.3% (6-17) on three-pointers, and hit 70.0% (7-10) of its free throws.
Jacksonville State had five total players finish in double-digit points. In addition to Haynes, Embry added 13 points, while Shanika Freeman, Cobie Carlisle, and Ann-Marie Healy all scored 11 points. The Gamecocks finished the game shooting 43.6% (24-55) from the field, including 43.8% (7-26) on three-pointers, and was 69.2% (18-26) from the charity stripe.
