JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Longwood University women's basketball team fell to Jacksonville State 50-42 on Thursday evening at the North Florida Holiday Classic. The Lancers fell to 4-5 on the season and end the tournament 1-1, while Jacksonville State improves to 3-7 on the season and finishes 2-0 in the tournament. Freshman Sierra Fletcher/Utica, Ohio (Utica) finished with a team-high 13 points for the Lancers, while junior Becky Fernandes/Fort Belvoir (Bishop Ireton) ended with 11 points. Senior Anna Steg/Vienna (George C. Marshall) finished with a team-high eight rebounds, six of which came on the defensive end. Longwood returns home for its next contest, hosting Atlantic Sun Conference member Kennesaw State on Sunday, December 21, at 1 p.m. in Willett Hall.

Longwood struggled out of the gate as Jacksonville State jumped to a 9-0 lead within the first six minutes of the contest. The Lancers would only manage to put up eight points by the end of the first half, sending Jacksonville State into the locker room with a 23-8 advantage.

The second half belonged to the Lancers who outscored Jacksonville State 34-27. Fletcher and Fernandes both found their rhythm in the second half of action, as Fletcher scored 11 of her 13 points in the period. Fernandes managed to knock down 10 of her 11 points in the second half, shooting 2-2 from the free-throw line.

Longwood came close to tying things up with 3:34 remaining in the game with a made free throw from freshman Emma Zieverink/West Chester (Lakota West) which pulled the Lancers within one. Despite the second half rally, the Lancers would never be able to take control of the scoreboard.  

Jolie Efezokhae had the games only double-double, scoring a game-high 19 points and pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds. Steg pulled down a team-high eight boards for the Lancers, with six coming in the second half of action.   

Longwood ended the game shooting 35% (15-43) from the floor and 56% (10-18) from the free throw line. Jacksonville State was 40% (18-45) from the floor and 50% (13-26) from the charity stripe.

North Florida Holiday Classic All-Tournament Team

Jade Davis – Texas A&M Corpus Christi
Jolie Efezokhae – Jacksonville State
Becky Fernandes – Longwood
Brittany Kirkland – North Florida
Brittany Wiley – Jacksonville State