January 2, 2009

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University women's basketball team dropped a closely contested match-up with Central Connecticut State on Friday night, falling to the Blue Devils 81-74. Freshman Brooke Long/Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) had the game of her career, scoring a season-high 21 points for the Lancers while shooting 8-12 from the field. Junior Becky Fernandes/Fort Belvoir (Bishop Ireton) pulled down a team high five rebounds, while contributing 11 points to the Lancers assault. Longwood returns to the court on Sunday, January 4 at 2 p.m. playing host to the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). Admission is free as part of Longwood Community Week.
   
Long's 21 points marks the first time that a member of the Lancers has scored 20 plus points this season. Despite Long scoring 21 points, the Lancers made sure to spread the wealth as all 11 players who saw action in the game scored at lease one point. Fernandes shot 5-7 from the free-throw line on her way to an 11 point game, while sophomore Krystal Garrison/Fredericksburg (Courtland) scored nine points.
   
Central Connecticut States Kerrianne Dugan led all players with 22 points, while teammate Leanne Crockett as the games leading rebounder with eight boards.
   
Longwood played Central Connecticut State close in the first half with the Blue Devils taking a 42-40 lead into halftime. The Lancers jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the opening minute of the half thanks to a 3-point shot out of the hands of freshman Lindsey Martin/Mechanicsville (Atlee) in the first 20 seconds of the game. The two teams would continue to battle each other strong in the first half, tying the game up on five different occasions and swapping control of the score board three times. Two made free-throws from Fernandes with eight seconds left in the half would tie the game up, but the Blue Devils would squeeze one in in the last three seconds to regain the lead.
   
P.J. Wade would lead the Blue Devils out into the second half with an unassisted jumper to increase the CCSU lead to 44-40. Long would pull the Lancers back within one with 14:25 remaining in the game after knocking down a tough 3-pointer with an assist from Fernandes. Freshman Emma Zieverink/West Chester, Ohio (Lakota West) tied the game at 52-52 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game, driving to the basket and laying one in. The Lancers lead would be short-lived with a layup by Dugan in the paint just seconds later. Central Connecticut State would not look back after regaining control of the lead, despite Longwood's best attempts to tie the the game in the wanning seconds of the contest.
   
The Lancers finished the game shooting 81% (17-21) from the free-throw line for just the second time this season. Longwood also ended the game shooting 48% (24-20) from field goal range and 53% (9-17) from behind the 3-point arc. Central Connecticut State ended the game 61% (23-38) from the charity stripe, while shooting 53% (25-47) from field goal range.