12.19.2011

Box Score

DAYTON, Ohio - The Longwood University women's basketball team dropped a 70-59 decision to Central Michigan University of the Mid-American Conference on Monday afternoon on the second day of the Wright State Invitational in Dayton, Ohio. Senior Brittanni Billups|Goldsboro, N.C. (Eastern Wayne) recorded her third double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, while junior Erin Neal|Durham (Hillside) added a team-high and career-best 15 points. The Lancers (2-9) trailed by 10 at halftime, but cut the deficit to four at 49-45 with 7:30 remaining in the game. The Chippewas (6-5) were led by Jas'Mine Bracey with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Longwood returns to action on Tuesday, December 20, when it faces Southeast Missouri State University at 2:30 p.m. on the final day of the Wright State Invitational in Dayton.

The game started slowly, as CMU held a slim 6-4 lead at the first media timeout with 14:00 remaining in the first half. The Chippewas pushed the lead to 20-5 with 8:24 remaining in the first half, but the Lancers went on a 7-0 run, fueled by four points from Billups and a conventional three-point play by Neal to trim the lead to 20-12 with 7:12 remaining. CMU led 30-20 at halftime.

The Chippewas extended the lead to 15 at 35-20 less than a minute into the second period. Longwood answered with another 7-0 run, capped by a three-pointer by junior Mieke Elkington|Hamilton, New Zealand (Cochise College) with 17:51 remaining. CMU led 46-34 with 12:29 remaining, but Longwood went on an 11-3 run  over the next five minutes to cut the deficit to 49-45 after a pair of free throws by freshman Rianna Frazer|Baltimore, Md. (Seton Keough) with 7:30 remaining. Elkington hit another three-pointer during the run. Central Michigan slowly extended the lead, scoring the next four points at the foul line before a three-pointer by Jordan LaDuke extended the lead to 56-47 with 5:51 remaining. A layup by freshman Megan Baltzell|Stafford (Mountain View) cut the lead to seven with 3:50 remaining, but the Lancers could not get closer as the Chippewas pulled away to win 70-59.

Billups recorded her 11th career double-double with 12 points (4-16 FG, 4-4 FT) and 18 rebounds, including nine offensive rebounds. Neal added a team-high 15 points (5-8 FG, 5-6 FT), while junior Crystal Smith|Richmond (Meadowbrook) scored 11 points (5-9 FG) off the bench. Junior Chelsea Coward|Mechanicsville (Hanover) dished out a team-high four assists. Longwood shot 36.2% (21-58) from the floor, including 36.4% (4-11) from behind the arc, and 92.9% (13-14) from the foul line. Longwood had 13 assists and nine steals.

Bracey scored a game-high 18 points (8-17 FG, 2-5 FT) and grabbed a team-high 15 rebounds. LaDuke added 17 points (5-12 FG, 3-10 3FG, 4-4 FT) and Crystal Bradford scored 13 points (6-14 FG). The Chippewas out-rebounded Longwood 49-38 and scored 23 second-chance points. They also turned 22 Longwood turnovers in to 27 points. CMU shot 36.2% (25-69) from the floor, including 18.2% (4-22) from behind the arc, and 66.7% (16-24) from the foul line.

Today's game was the first meeting between Central Michigan and Longwood.