January 21, 2008
BOX SCORE
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Longwood University took a 59-52 women's basketball road win at Columbia University Monday night at the Levien Gymnasium in New York, New York. Junior Courtney Dyer/Richmond (Monacan) led the Lancers (11-10) to their third-straight win with 17 points, while Michele Gage led the Lions (3-12) with a game-high 19 points. Longwood will play again on Sunday, January 27, at Savannah State University in Georgia beginning at 4 p.m..
Longwood jumped ahead 6-1 at 16:12 as junior Amber Sims/Lawrenceville (Brunswick Senior) scored four quick points, and the Lancers led 13-4 at 9:19 after a layup from Sims. The visitors extended the advantage to 22-10 with 3:14 left in the first half after back-to-back three-point field goals from freshman Krystal Garrison/Fredericksburg (Courtland). Columbia closed the half with a 6-1 run to trail 23-16 at the intermission.
The host Lions continued with their momentum early in the second half and closed to within 30-27 at 14:06, capping a 17-8 run between the two periods. Longwood, however, scored six unanswered points as senior Keiva Small/Norfolk (Norview) had a three-point play and Dyer made a three-pointer. The Lancers led by 10 points at 48-38 with 5:28 left after a layup from junior Anna Steg/Vienna (George C. Marshall), but Columbia rallied again and was within 48-44 at 3:19. The visitors, though, would secure their road triumph with 9-10 free throws over the final 1:57, including 3-4 from Garrison.
Dyer finished with 17 points to lead Longwood, making 4-6 on three-pointers, while Garrison added 14 points, including 3-5 three-pointers. Small had nine points and six rebounds for the Lancers. LU shot 46% (19-41) from the field, including 50% (7-14) on three-point field goals, and 70% (14-20) at the line.
Gage finished with a game-high 19 points to lead Columbia, while Chelsea Frazier had 15 points for the Lions. CU shot 29% (16-56) from the field, including 22% (6-27) on three-pointers, and 70% (14-20) at the free throw line.
It was the first-ever meeting between Longwood and Columbia in women’s basketball. The Lancers have also surpassed their entire win-total (8) of last year by three with eight games remaining.
