January 4, 2008

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University women's basketball team, led by junior Becky Fernandes/Fort Belvoir (Bishop Ireton), defeated the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) 84-80 at the conclusion of overtime on Sunday afternoon in Willett Hall. Fernandes led all players in points scoring a career-high and season-high 33 points, while pulling down 11 boards for her first double-double of the season. Longwood returns to the court on Wednesday, January 7 at 7 p.m. playing host to Ivy League member Columbia.  

Fernandes, who has been a force to be reckoned with for the Lancers, shattered the teams season-high in points by a single player this season with her 33 points. Her 33 points comes just one game after freshman Brooke Long/Richmond (Mills E. Godwin) set a new season-high on January 2 against Central Connecticut State scoring 22 points. Fernandes' 33 points is also the most scored by a member of the Lancers in a single game since their transition to Division I. The 5-6 junior point guard also set a new single game record in free-throws made, shooting 17-22 from the charity stripe surpassing Hall of Fame player Carmille Barnett. Barnett had held the record of 15 made free-throws in a single game since the 1990-91 season.
   
Longwood went straight to work with a made 3-point shot from freshman Sierra Fletcher/Utica, Ohio (Utica) just 40 seconds into the game. Fletcher was one of four players to end the game in double digits, scoring 13 points and grabbing four boards. NJIT tied the game 10-10 with 14:32 remaining in the half with a good free-throw from Melanie Griffin to complete the three-point play. Longwood would run away with the half just seconds later courtesy of a Fernandes layup in the point. The Lancers would run up a 10 point lead with 9:19 remaining  before heading to the locker room leading 34-25.
   
The second half would begin with the Lancers picking up where they left off at the end of the first half, with Fernandes laying one up 15 seconds into the period to increase the Longwood lead to 36-25. The Highlanders would try to chip away at the Lancers lead, shaving off a few points here and there but would never be able to gain control of the scoreboard. NJIT would pull within one point with 36 seconds left in regulation with a good 3-pointer from Jessica Gerald making the score 71-70. Longwood would nearly squeeze out the victory at the end of regulation, but two made free-throws from Taiwo Oyelola of NJIT tied the game 72-72 with two seconds left on the clock. Longwood would try and fire a quick pass down court but it would not reach its destination, sending the game to overtime.
   
The Highlanders grabbed their first lead of the game at the start of overtime with another good free-throw from T. Oyelola. Freshman Brittanni Billups/Goldsboro, N.C. (Eastern Wayne) recaptured the Lancers lead with 3:55 on the clock making the score 74-73, but the Highlanders would quickly counter to regain control of the scoreboard. Fernandes would eventually end the Highlanders hopes of a comeback with nine seconds to play in the overtime period, making her record-breaking 17th free-throw to put the Lancers up 83-78. NJIT would score two more times, but would not be able to take the lead falling 84-80.  

Fernandes led all players in points with 33, while three other Lancers ended the game in double-digits. Fletcher had 13 points, while senior Amber Sims/Lawrenceville (Brunswick) scored 12 points and sophomore Krystal Garrison/Fredericksburg (Courtland) had 11 points. Gerald was the Highlanders leading score with 23 points, while Kehinde Oyelola had 19. T. Oyelola was the games leading rebounder pulling in 12 boards, while Fernandes had 11 for Longwood.
   
Longwood finished 40% (27-67) from field goal range, while shooting 69% (24-35) from the free-throw line. NJIT shot 44% (26-59) from the floor, while finishing 60% (24-40) from the charity strip