March 2, 2008
BOX SCORE
FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University took a 60-49 women’s basketball victory past visiting NJIT Sunday on Senior Day at Willett Hall in Farmville. The Lancers finished the regular season with five-straight wins and a final record of 16-13; led by senior Keiva Small/Norfolk (Norview) with a double-double of 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. The Highlanders (8-18) were led by Jessica Gerald with a game-high 23 points. Longwood doubled its win-total of a year ago (8-21) with its final record of 16-13 this season under first-year head coach Kristin Caruso.
Longwood led 5-0 early at 17:54 as Small scored on a layup and junior Anna Steg/Vienna (George C. Marshall) added a basket in the lane and 1-2 free throws. NJIT closed to 6-4 at 13:44 as Gerald made a three-point field goal and 1-2 free throws. The Lancers extended their advantage to 22-6 with 8:14 remaining in the first half with a 16-2 run sparked by six different players who scored points, including four points each from Small and junior Amber Sims/Lawrenceville (Brunswick Senior). The Highlanders fought back behind 12 first-half points from Gerald to trail 31-21 at the intermission.
NJIT continued its momentum to start the second half, capping a 29-13 run that spanned both periods to tie the game at 35-35 with 16:14 on the clock. Gerald added five quick points in the second half for the Highlanders to help forge the tie. Longwood, however, responded with nine unanswered points to lead 44-35 at 12:52 as Steg made four free throws, Small added an old-fashioned three-point play, and freshman Cierra Baker/Windsor, Conn. (Windsor) scored on a layup. NJIT again rallied to within 45-42 at 8:35 but a 10-2 outburst by the Lancers made it 55-44 with 3:22 left and the hosts had control for good as the visitors were no closer than eight points (56-48, 2:08) down the stretch.
Small finished with the double-double of 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds to lead Longwood, fouling out with 2:35 remaining while adding four assists, and totaled 994 career points. Steg added her own double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Lancers, while Baker had 11 points and six rebounds off the bench. Sims finished with eight points and six rebounds. LU shot 36% (20-56) from the field, including 10% (1-10) on three-pointers, and 54% (19-35) at the line. Longwood out-rebounded NJIT 55-45, and outscored the visitors 32-18 in the paint.
Gerald finished with 23 points, including 4-8 three-pointers, to lead NJIT. Ivana Seric had nine points and nine rebounds off the bench for the Highlanders, while Erika Velez had 10 rebounds. NJIT shot 28% (17-60) from the field, including 20% (5-25) on three-pointers, and 42% (10-24) at the line.
