12.22.2011

Box Score

CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Longwood University women's basketball team dropped a 70-54 decision at the University of Cincinnati of the Big East Conference on Thursday afternoon in Cincinnati, Ohio. Junior Crystal Smith|Richmond (Meadowbrook) led the Lancers with 14 points off the bench, while classmate Chelsea Coward|Mechanicsville (Hanover) added 12 points and a team-high six rebounds. Chanel Chisholm paced the Bearcats with a game-high 22 points. Longwood (2-11) returns to action on Wednesday, December 28, when it travels to South Bend, Indiana, to take on the third-ranked University of Notre Dame at 2 p.m..

Cincinnati opened an eight point lead at 16-8 with 9:44 remaining. Smith drained a three-pointer to cut the lead to five, then senior Brittanni Billups|Goldsboro, N.C. (Eastern Wayne) made a free throw to trim the lead to four. UC made a layup, then freshman Rianna Frazer|Baltimore, Md. (Seton Keough) hit a three-pointer to cut the lead to three at 18-15 with 6:44 remaining. The Bearcats ended the half on a 15-5 run to lead 33-20 at halftime.

 Junior Erin Neal|Durham (Hillside) scored the first seven points for Longwood in the second half, including a layup with 15:23 remaining to cut the lead to 40-27. The hosts slowly extended the lead to as many as 20 points with 4:58 remaining in the game. The Lancers out-scored the hosts 11-7 over the final 4:29 to fall 70-54.

Smith led the Lancers with 14 points (6-11 FG) while Coward added 12 points (5-10 FG, 2-2 FT) and Neal scored 10 points (2-5 FG, 6-7 FT). Coward grabbed six of the Lancers' 27 rebounds. Longwood received a season-high 29 points from the bench. The Lancers shot 36.7% (18-49) from the floor, including 22.2% (2-9) from behind the arc, and 76.2% (16-21) from the foul line.

Chisholm recorded game-highs of 22 points and 10 rebounds, while Kayla Cooke added 14 points (5-11 FG, 3-7 3FG) and Tiffany Turner score 13 points (3-7 FG, 7-7 FT). Bjonee Reaves added 10 points (4-12 FG). The Bearcats out-rebounded Longwood 33-27 and scored 15 second chance points. UC turned 14 Longwood turnovers in to 18 points, including 10 fast break points. Cincinnati shot 47.1% (24-51) from the floor, including 36.4% (4-11) from behind the arc, and 81.8 (18-22) from the foul line.

Cincinnati leads the all-time series 1-0.