November 13, 2007

BOX SCORE

LORETTO, Pa.—Longwood women’s basketball was unable to withstand a late rally by Saint Francis falling 65-55, Tuesday evening in Loretto, Pa.. The Lancers who fall to 0-3 on the year, was led by senior Keiva Small’s/Norfolk (Norview) 13 points, all of which came in the second half while the Red Flash (1-1) was paced by Britney Hodges’ 18 points. Longwood will host the Longwood Classic sponsored by C & L Machine and Welding Inc., this upcoming Friday and Saturday. The Lancers will kick-off the two day tournament with a 6 p.m. match-up with Howard followed by an 8 p.m. contest between Morgan State and Campbell.

Longwood was plagued by fouls and turnover early as St. Francis was able to jump out to a 9-6 into the first media timeout. Out of the break senior Odessa Williams/Stratford, Conn. (Stratford) made a steal on the defensive end that was finished on the offensive side by freshman Mallory Short/Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) to cut the deficit to one point. The Red Flash however was able to put the lead to five points on consecutive baskets by Saint Francis forcing Longwood to take a thirty second timeout.

After the Red Flash put together a 9-0 run, Longwood came right back and put together a 9-2 run of their own, finished on a three-pointer by junior Courtney Dyer/Richmond (Monacan) to tie the score at 21-21 with 7:59 left in the first half. Longwood continued to pressure the Red Flash defense and outscored Saint Francis 11-7 in the final seven minutes. The visiting Lancers took their first lead of the game, on a lay-up by freshman Krystal Garrison/Fredericksburg (Courtland) six minutes before the break. On the ensuing Red Flash possession, Garrison made a steal on the defensive side and found Dyer, who finished the play with a lay-up for the three point lead. Dyer hit a three and Williams finished the half with the lay-up to give Longwood the four point halftime lead.

The Lancers were able to build a lead to six points early in the second the half as junior Anna Steg/Vienna (George C. Marshall) took a pass from Small and put in a lay-up in the opening eleven seconds. Shawna Scott hit back-to-back lay-ups to cut the Longwood lead to one twice, out of the first media time out.

After freshman Cierra Baker/Windsor, Conn. (Windsor) sunk a lay-up, and Saint Francis answered on the other end to put the score at 44-41 in favor of Longwood, Small took over and scored Longwood’s final 11 points.

Small hit a three to push the Lancer lead to four and after Saint Francis tied the game at 47 with 9:35 to go in the game, Short picked up an offensive board and dished the ball out to Small who finished the play for the two point lead. The next four minutes proved to be the difference maker as the Red Flash and Longwood exchanged the lead four times before Saint Francis took the lead for good with 3:28 to go in the game. The Longwood shooting went cold in a two minute span and the Lancers were unable to recover falling in the final minutes.

Baker and Dyer each finished with eight points while Baker was the leader on the boards pulling down nine rebounds. The Lancers shot for 32.9% from the floor while Saint Francis shot 41.8% from the field. Key foul shots toward the end of the game was also a difference maker, as the Red Flash shot 81% and Longwood shot 60% including 0-3 in the final half.