November 30, 2006
BOX SCORE
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Longwood University women’s basketball team put up a gallant second-half effort while falling 68-33 against the sixth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes Thursday evening at the Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Longwood falls to 4-4 on the season while OSU remains undefeated, posting a 6-0 record. The Lancers will wrap-up their Ohio trip on Saturday, December 2, as they travel to Dayton to take on Wright State for a 12:00 p.m. tip-off.
Behind Star Allen’s 11 first half points, Ohio State jumped out on top taking a four point lead into the first media timeout. The Buckeyes built on their lead, closing the first half on a three-pointer by Brandie Hoskins to grab a 32 point halftime lead.
“I think our kids were a little star struck in the first half,” explained head coach Pamela Bass. “We went into the locker room, regrouped and played some great twenty minutes of basketball.”
The Lancers came out of the halftime break and went on an 8-4 run into the first media timeout. Senior Abbey Freese/West Liberty, Ohio (West Liberty-Salem) started things off hitting two three-pointers on the Lancers first three possessions of the second half. The Longwood defense held the powerful Buckeye offense without a bucket for the opening three minutes of the half. Sophomore Anna Steg/Fairfax (George C. Marshall) stayed with National Player of the Year candidate Jessica Davenport and held her to a season low 12 points. Steg ready for the challenge tonight, out rebounding the 6-5 center 13-7 and tallied a big block on Davenport in the lane with nine minutes remaining in the game. Steg finished with a season high eight points and 13 boards in 35 minutes of action while junior Keiva Small/Norfolk (Norview) tallied seven points of her own in the loss.
“Anna played amazing defense tonight and stood her ground in the paint,” stated Bass. “She took everything that Davenport threw at her, there isn’t enough you can say about how Anna played.”
After scoring 11 points in the first half OSU’s Allen was held scoreless in the second, as Longwood hung with the Buckeyes in the second trailing by a 27-24 margin.
