January 7, 2008

BOX SCORE

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University women's basketball team fell to Ivy League member Columbia 93-83 on Wednesday night in Willett Hall. Senior Anna Steg/Vienna (George C. Marshall) led the Lancers in points with 14, while pulling down five boards. Junior Becky Fernandes/Fort Belvoir (Bishop Ireton) scored 13 points for Longwood, shooting 5-7 from the free-throw line. Longwood returns to the court on Tuesday, January 13 facing North Carolina Central in Durham, N.C. at 6 p.m.

Kathleen Barry of Columbia led all players with 23 points, while teammate Katrina Cragg ended the game with 21 total points. The Lancers had four players finish in double-digits, including Steg (14 points, five rebounds) and Fernandes (13 points, one rebound). Freshmen Sierra Fletcher/Utica, Ohio (Utica) and Morgan Smith/Williamsport, Md. (Williamsport) both finished with 11 points, while Smith grabbed six boards.
   
The game got off to a quick start with both teams challenging each other up and down the court. Columbia grabbed the ball at the tip and immediately took it to the basket for an early 2-0 lead. Longwood counter attacked to tie the game up thus beginning a six minute string of back and forth basketball. Columbia eventually grabbed control of the half, taking a 46-39 lead into halftime.
   
Longwood picked up the intensity in the second half of action by chipping away at the Lions lead, beginning with a two made free-throws from Steg. Steg ended her night shooting a perfect 6-6 from the free-throw line. With 18:31 remaining in the game Longwood cut the Columbia lead to five with a long range shot from Fletcher to make the score 49-44. Columbia would come to life half way through the second period jumping to a 16 point lead with 7:19 play, courtesy of a good free-throw from Lauren Dwyer. Longwood tried its best to get back into chopping the Columbia lead to 86-79 with 1:29 remaining. The late Longwood surge would not be enough to earn a victory as the team fell 93-83.
   
Statistically the two teams were close with Longwood shooting 48% (29-60) from the floor, while Columbia shot 52% (34-65). The Lions had the advantage in free-throws, shooting 83% (15-18) compared to the Lancers 77% (17-22).