March 7, 2009
BOX SCORE
OREM, Utah – Longwood University's women's basketball team snapped its four game losing streak on Saturday, topping Savannah State 76-60 in the Division I Independent Championship in Orem, Utah. Freshman
Sierra Fletcher/Utica, Ohio (Utica) led four Lancers in double figures with 17 points. Longwood finished the season with an 8-21 record. It was the final game in a Longwood uniform for seniors
Amber Sims/Lawrenceville, Va. (Brunswick Senior) and
Anna Steg/Vienna, Va. (George C. Marshall).
The first half was very competitive, with neither team able to get ahead by more than six points. Longwood fell behind by six with 8:11 remaining in the half but a three pointer by
Morgan Smith/Williamsport, Md. (Williamsport) and fast break layup by
Cierra Baker/Windsor, Conn. (Windsor) cut the lead to one. The teams went back and forth, but two Fletcher three-pointers and three Longwood free throws gave the Lancers a 40-39 halftime lead.
Fletcher went 4-for-5 from behind the arc in the first half for 12 points. The Lancers led by one at halftime despite the fact that Savannah State shot 68 percent (17-25) from the field in the first half.
The Lancers came out of halftime and slowly built an insurmountable lead. Longwood went on a 9-0 run over 5:50 in the second half to take a 55-43 lead with 10:36 remaining in the game. Baker had five points during the run, hitting a three-pointer to start the surge. Longwood's lead swelled to 19 (68-49) with 3:10 to go after two Fletcher free throws and her fifth three-pointer of the night.
Fletcher went finished the game shooting 5-for-8 from three with a team-high 17 points. Smith added 13 points and five rebounds while Baker kicked in 12 points and grabbed six boards. Junior
Becky Fernandes/Ft. Belvoir (Bishop Ireton) added 10 points, six assists and four steals. Steg had six points and eight rebounds and Sims scored three points and grabbed five rebounds in their final game for Longwood.
Longwood held Savannah State to 23.5 percent (8-for-34) shooting in the second half. The Lancers won the battle on the glass, outrebounding Savannah State 41-29. The Tigers turned the ball over 14 times, with Longwood scoring 26 points off of turnovers.
Savannah State was led by Lashara Smith with 17 points and Crissa Jackson with 13 points. Alisa Nelson grabbed 13 rebounds and scored six points. Courtney Long dished out six assists and added six points.
