November 19, 2008

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University women's basketball team played their first home game of the season against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Wednesday night, defeating the Red Flash 78-66 in Willett Hall. The win improves the Lancers season record to 2-1, while the Red Flash fall to 0-2 on the season. Junior guard Becky Fernandes/Fort Belvoir (Bishop Ireton) had a team high 16 points, while earning four assists and pulling down four rebounds. Longwood returns to the road for its next contest taking on Atlantic Sun Conference member Campbell in Buies Creek, N.C., on November 22 at 1 p.m.

Fernandes' 16 points is the most scored by a member of the Lancers squad this season. Samantha Leach was the games leading scorer, putting up 18 points for the Red Flash. Senior Amber Sims/Lawrenceville (Brunswick Senior) led the game in rebounds grabbing six (four offensive, two defensive), while the Lancers pulled down seven as a team.
   
The first team saw both teams swap the lead on several occasions. The Red Flash jumped on the board first, taking a 2-0 lead 30 seconds into the game. Longwood countered a minute and a half later to jump out to a three point lead on a successful three-pointer from Cierra Baker/Windsor, Conn. (Windsor). Longwood would go onto an astounding 18 point lead in the 2:23 mark in the first half with a made jumper by Fernandes. The Red Flash cut the Lancers lead to 15 with just over a minute to play, but with just 33 seconds remaining in the half freshman Kayla Loughner/Brinklow, Md. (Atlee) drained a three to take the Longwood lead back to 18.
   
Fernandes increased the Lancers lead to 22 just three minutes into the second half, fighting her way to the basket and sinking one from down low. Saint Francis was able to cut the Lancers lead to single digits with 11:02 left on the clock to make the score 56-51. The next five minutes of play each team countering the others scoring opportunities to keep the game within single digits. Things would change with just over five minutes remaining, courtesy of a made jumper by freshman Emma Zieverink/West Chester, Ohio (Lakota West). Zieverink's jumper took the Lancers lead to 11 and helped pick up the team moral. Longwood would continue to pile in the baskets, taking a 12 point lead into the final seconds of the game.
   
Both teams struggled to hold onto the ball with Saint Francis turning the ball over 29 times to Longwood's 22. Longwood shot 50% (28-56) from the floor, while shooting 74% (17-23) from the free-throw line. Saint Francis was 20-45 (44%) from field goal range and 22-28 (79%) from the charity stripe.