January 2, 2008

BOX SCORE

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- Longwood University took a 64-43 women's basketball road victory at Central Connecticut State University Wednesday afternoon in New Britain, Connecticut.  Senior Keiva Small/Norfolk (Norview) and freshman Cierra Baker/Windsor, Conn. (Windsor) each scored 13 points to lead the Lancers (7-8) against the Blue Devils (1-11).  Longwood will play again on Thursday, Jan. 3, at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass. beginning at 7 p.m..

Longwood took a 16-8 advantage at 9:05 of the first half on a layup from senior Odessa Williams/Stratford, Conn. (CC of Rhode Island).  The Lancers led 20-10 with 5:27 left until halftime after a layup by Baker, and Baker’s three-point field goal with 1:26 on the clock made it 27-15 before Central Connecticut State made a late three-pointer to close to within 27-18 at the intermission.

Longwood led 32-21 with 16:11 remaining after a three-pointer from freshman Krystal Garrison/Fredericksburg (Courtland).  The Blue Devils rallied back to within 42-34 with 8:15 remaining before the Lancers took control and outscored the hosts 22-9 to earn the road victory.  Small’s free throw started the game-closing run followed by another three-pointer, this time from junior Courtney Dyer/Richmond (Monacan), and the visitors also made 7-9 free throws down the stretch.

Small and Baker each finished with 13 points to lead Longwood, while Williams had nine points and nine rebounds, and Dyer also had nine points for the Lancers.  LU shot 36% (21-58) from the field, including 29% (7-24) on three-pointers, and 63% (15-24) at the line.

Central Connecticut State had no players reach double-figure scoring as the Blue Devils shot 26% (14-54) from the field, including 1-12 on three-pointers, and 50% (14-28) at the free throw line.