February 17, 2008
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University freshman Krystal Garrison/Fredericksburg (Courtland) scored eight points in the final 33-seconds to lead the host Lancers (14-13) past visiting Savannah State University 69-66 in women’s basketball Sunday afternoon at Willett Hall in Farmville. Garrison finished with a career-high 18 points and made two huge three-point field goals (0:33, 0:11) before securing the win over the Tigers (12-15) with two free throws at 0:01. Longwood will play again next Sunday, February 24, hosting Presbyterian College at Willett Hall beginning at 2 p.m..
Savannah State had taken a 63-61 lead on a layup from Amber West with 52-seconds remaining in a closely-played game that witnessed 15 lead-changes and seven ties throughout. Garrison’s first three-pointer gave Longwood a 64-63 lead at 0:33 before Ivy Smith made a three-pointer for the Tigers at 0:26 for a 66-64 advantage by the visitors. Garrison’s second and decisive three-pointer at 0:11 gave the Lancers the lead for good at 67-66, and the first-year guard made a pair of free throws with just one-second on the clock to secure the outcome after a missed jumper in the lane by SSU.
Savannah State jumped to an early 8-2 advantage at 16:51 as Patrice Robinson scored four quick points inside but Longwood responded with nine unanswered points to lead 11-8 with 12:37 left in the first half as senior Keiva Small/Norfolk (Norview) scored five points. The Tigers went back ahead 17-13 at 8:36 with their own 9-2 run capped by Smith’s three-pointer before the Lancers again rallied back for a 21-19 lead just 3:42 before the break as four different players scored. The visitors, however, closed the period strong and led 28-26 at the intermission.
Longwood fell behind 43-38 with 12:58 remaining as Smith scored five points for Savannah State to open the second half. The Lancers battled back again with nine-straight points to lead 47-43 at 10:33 as Garrison started the run with a three-pointer and junior Anna Steg/Vienna (George C. Marshall) closed it with two free throws. The hosts maintained the advantage down the stretch and led by as many as seven points at 59-52 with 3:49 left to play after two more free throws from freshman Mallory Short/Richmond (Mill E. Godwin). The Tigers, though, fought back again with nine unanswered points to lead 61-59 at 1:19 on a pair of free throws from Smith. Steg tied it at 61-61 with 59-seconds left on a basket inside off a nice pass from Garrison to set-up the final minute of exciting back-and-forth action.
Garrison finished with a career-high 18 points, including 4-9 three-pointers, to lead Longwood while making her first collegiate start. Small had 15 points, eight assists, and six rebounds for the Lancers, followed by junior Amber Sims/Lawrenceville (Brunswick Senior) (14), and Steg (10) as Sims and Steg each grabbed six rebounds as well. LU shot 41% (25-61) from the field, including 33% (4-12) on three-pointers, and 83% (15-18) at the line.
Smith finished with a game-high 22 points (4-8 3FG) to lead Savannah State. Robinson had a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Tigers. SSU shot 42% (21-50) from the field, including 50% (6-12) on three-pointers, and 90% (18-20) at the line.
Longwood avenged a 56-52 road loss at Savannah State last month (Jan. 27) in Georgia while moving its series record to 4-2 against the Tigers all-time.
