February 1, 2006
BOX SCOREFARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University women’s basketball team dropped a 77-50 decision to Big South Conference member Liberty this evening at Willett Hall in Farmville. The loss drops the Lancers overall record to 7-15, while the Lady Flames improved to 13-5 overall on the season. Longwood was led by freshman guard Courtney Dyer/Richmond (Monacan) who scored a career-high 12 points, and added three rebounds and two assists. Longwood will be back in action on Tuesday, February 7 when its welcomes Southern Virginia to Willett Hall. Game time is slated for 7:00 p.m.
The first eight minutes of the game was closely played as neither team was able to extend its lead over four points. But with Liberty leading 12-8 at the 11:46 mark, Longwood used an 11-0 run to gain the games largest lead at seven, 19-12. Dyer capped off the run for the Lancers when she drained a three-pointer with 8:27 remaining in the first half.
With Longwood leading 22-17 at the 5:07 mark, Liberty used a 15-2 spurt to recapture the lead and hold an eight-point advantage at 32-24 with 1:14 left in the first stanza. Roli-Ann Nikabatse scored eight points for the Lady Flames during Liberty’s run.
Longwood responded as senior forward Amber Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) drained a three-pointer and freshman forward Cassandra Smith/Fredericksburg (Massaponax) made one of two free throws to cut the Lancers halftime deficit to four at 32-28.
Liberty came out flying in the second half, holding Longwood scoreless for the first six minutes while scoring 18-straight points to take a commanding 50-28 lead. Freshman center Anna Steg/Fairfax (George C. Marshall) finally broke the Lancers scoreless streak when she hit one free throw at the 13:36 mark.
Liberty continued to dominate, building a 29-point advantage; its largest of the game, at 68-29 with 6:19 remaining in the contest. Longwood was able to slice the Lady Flames lead to 24, two different times over the final six minutes, but could overcome the large deficit and dropped the 27-point loss.
Besides Dyer, Longwood was led by Steg who scored 11 points, grabbed five rebounds, blocked two shots and had one steal. Amber Mason added eight points, six rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal. The Lancers finished the game shooting 29.8% (14-47) from the field, including 25.0% (5-20) on three-pointers, and was 63.0% (17-27) from the charity stripe.
Liberty was led by Courtney Watkins and Rebecca Lightfoot who scored 14 and 12 points, respectively. The Lady Flames finished the game shooting 44.3% (27-61) from the field, including 42.9% (6-14) on three-pointers, and was 77.3% (17-22) at the free throw line.
