January 3, 2008

BOX SCORE

AMHERST, Mass. -- Longwood University dropped a hard-fought 68-58 women's basketball road decision at the University of Massachusetts Thursday night at the William D. Mullens Memorial Court in Amherst, Massachusetts.  Junior Courtney Dyer/ Richmond (Monacan) led the Lancers (7-9) with a career-high 28 points, including 6-11 on three-point field goals, while Pam Rosanio led UMass (8-8) with 21 points.  Longwood will play again on Saturday, Jan. 5, at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York beginning at 1 p.m..

Longwood led early against UMass of the Atlantic 10 Conference, taking a 13-10 advantage at 12:41 of the first half after a jumper from Dyer who had opened the contest with a pair of three-pointers.  The Minutewomen took their first lead at 15-13 with 10:25 left in the period on a three-pointer from Stefanie Gerardot, and the hosts used a 24-6 run to lead 34-19 at 3:48 of the opening half.  The Lancers closed the half with a 6-2 run to trail 36-25 at the intermission as Dyer scored 10 first-half points.

Massachusetts led 40-25 early in the second half before Longwood again battled back with an 18-9 run to close to within 49-43 at 9:29.  Dyer had a pair of three-pointers during the run, while senior Keiva Small/Norfolk (Norview) and junior Anna Steg/Vienna (George C. Marshall) each added a pair of layups.  The hosts, however, used an 11-2 run to lead 60-45 with 6:10 remaining as Kate Mills scored six quick points.  The Lancers, though, would not go away and closed to 60-53 as Dyer added another three-pointer and a layup as well before the Minutewomen scored six-straight points to lead 66-53 at 2:24.  Dyer added another three-pointer with under a minute to play to provide for the final 10-point margin.

Dyer finished with a career-high 28 points (10-16 FG, 6-11 3FG, 2-2 FT), including a career-best six three-point field goals, to lead Longwood, while Small had 10 points and eight assists.  Steg added seven points and four rebounds for the Lancers.  LU shot 43% (24-56) from the field, including 50% (7-14) on three-pointers, and 60% (3-5) at the line.

Rosanio finished with 21 points and eight rebounds to lead UMass, while Mills had 20 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks for the Minutewomen.  UMass shot 57% (29-51) from the field, including 33% (3-9) on three-pointers, and 78% (7-9) at the free throw line.

It was the first-ever meeting between Longwood and Massachusetts in women’s basketball.