January 29, 2009

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. -- Longwood University took a 58-54 women's basketball home victory past visiting Mount St. Mary's University Thursday night at Willett Hall in Farmville.  Senior Anna Steg/Vienna (George C. Marshall) posted a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds to lead three players in double-figure scoring for the Lancers who improved their record to 6-13 this season.  Hassanah Oliver scored a game-high 17 points to lead the Mountaineers who dropped to 7-12.  Longwood stopped a four-game losing streak with the win and will now play again this Sunday, February 1, on the road at the University of Virginia, ranked #18 nationally in Division I, at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville beginning at 2 p.m..
   
Longwood trailed by as many as 14 points early in the contest as Mount St. Mary's scored the game's first 12 points en route to leading 16-2 at 11:24 on a layup from Oliver who scored six quick points.  The Lancers, however, battled back with a 13-4 run to close to within 20-15 at 7:54 as sophomore Krystal Garrison/Fredericksburg (Courtland) scored six points, including a three-point field goal and an old-fashioned three-point play on a drive to the basket as well.  The Mount, though, increased their margin to double-figures again and led 28-17 at 4:03 after another jumper by Oliver.  The hosts again fought back and outscored the visitors 9-5 over the remainder of the period to trail 33-26 at the intermission as freshman Sierra Fletcher/Utica, Ohio (Utica) closed the half with consecutive three-pointers.
   
Longwood continued its momentum and scored the first 12 points of the second half to lead 38-33 at 15:38 as freshman Emma Zieverink/West Chester, Ohio (Lakota West) scored five points, Steg tallied four points, and Fletcher made another three-pointer.  The Lancers maintained the advantage and increased the margin to 52-41 with just 5:50 remaining as Garrison scored eight points, including back-to-back three-pointers.  Mount St. Mary's tried to rally back and closed quickly to within 52-48 at 4:38 when Brianna Gauthier made a three-pointer to end a 7-0 run.  Steg scored inside at 3:08 and again at 2:18 for a 56-50 advantage, but the Mountaineers pulled to within 56-54 at 1:19 before Steg secured the triumph with a layup with just 12-seconds left on the clock on a nice pass from junior Becky Fernandes/Ft. Belvoir (Bishop Ireton).
   
Steg led Longwood with her second double-double this season of 14 points (7-9 FG) and a game-high 10 rebounds.  Garrison also had 14 points (3-7 3FG), while Fletcher finished with 11 points (3-6 3FG), three assists, and three steals for the Lancers.  Zieverink had nine points and a career-high five rebounds, while Fernandes contributed a game-high seven assists along with her five points.  LU shot 43% (23-53) from the field, including 56% (14-25) in the second half, 50% (9-18) on three-pointers, and 43% (3-7) at the free throw line.
   
Oliver led Mount St. Mary's with her game-high 17 points (8-18 FG).  Gauthier and Mary Dunn each finished with nine points for the Mountaineers.  MSM shot 40 % (23-58) from the field, including 25% (2-8) on three-pointers, and 67% (6-9) at the line.
   
Longwood has now won back-to-back games against Mount St. Mary's, including last year's 69-58 win in Maryland, but The Mount still leads the all-time series between the two schools at 8-3.