January 7, 2006

BOX SCORE

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Longwood University dropped a 67-58 women’s basketball decision to host Winthrop College this evening at the Winthrop Coliseum in Rock Hill, S.C.. The loss drops the Lancers overall record to 4-11, while the Eagles improved their record to 5-7. Longwood was led by senior forward Ashley Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) who scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds; her second-straight double-double performance. LU will be back in action Tuesday, January 10 when the welcome UNC Asheville to Willett Hall. Game time is slated for 7:00 p.m.

With Winthrop leading 4-0 at the 18:07 mark, Longwood used a 13-1 spurt to take a 13-5 advantage. Ashley Mason, who scored 10-straight points for the Lancers, capped off Longwood’s run by converting a three-point play at 12:46. The Eagles responded with a 9-1 run of its own to tie the game 14-14 and took a two-point lead at 17-15 after Tiffany Rood drained a three-pointer with 7:52 remaining in the first half.

After tying the game twice more, Longwood was able to recapture the lead after junior guard Abigail Freese/West Liberty, Ohio (West Liberty-Salem) drained back-to-back three-pointers to give LU a 27-21 lead at 3:33. The Lancers pushed its advantage to eight points, 31-23, after Ashley Mason sank two free throws, but a three-pointer by the Eagles Ashley Carey and a jumper by Roneisha Kinney over the final 32 seconds sliced the Lancers halftime lead to 31-28.

Winthrop quickly tied the game at 35-35 in the early minutes of the second half after a layup by Carey. The Eagles then used a 9-2 spurt to take a seven-point edge with 14:32 to play in the contest.

The Lancers fought back and cut Winthrop’s lead to 47-44 after a three-pointer by freshman guard Courtney Dyer/Richmond (Monacan), and jumpers by Freese and Ashley Mason.

Winthrop responded, breaking open the game by building a double-digit advantage at 63-51 after going on a 16-5 run. The Eagles Ashley Fann helped Winthrop build its lead to double-digits by scoring the final six points of the run; including four-straight free throws.

The Lancers could not overcome the deficit and dropped its first game under interim head coach Nikki Atkinson.

Besides Ashley Mason, the Lancers were led by Freese who scored 13 points, while adding three rebounds and three assists. Longwood finished the game shooting 34.5% (19-55) from the field, including 30.0% (6-20) on three-pointers, and was 66.7% (14-21) from the charity stripe.

Winthrop had four players finish in double-figure points, including

Carey who finished with a team-high 18 points and three rebounds. Lisa Koop added a double-double of 10 point and 10 rebounds, while Milevoj added 16 points and Fann chipped in 10 points. The Eagles finished the game shooting 40.3% (25-62) from the field, including 27.3% (6-22) on three-pointers, and was 64.7% (11-17) at the free throw line.