February 19, 2011

Box Score

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Longwood University women's basketball team fell at fellow Independent CSU Bakersfield 78-70 on Saturday afternoon in Bakersfield, California. The Lancers (6-19) were led by freshman Bria White|Silver Spring, Md. (Bethesda-Chevy Chase) with team-highs of 14 points and seven rebounds with four assists in a season-high 35 minutes while the Roadrunners (16-11) were paced by Amber Williams with 24 points. Longwood returns to action on Wednesday, February 23, when it travels to Boiling Springs, North Carolina, to face Gardner-Webb University of the Big South Conference at 7 p.m.. The Lancers fell to the Bulldogs 68-58 in Farmville earlier this season.

Longwood built a 12-8 lead with 13:16 remaining in the first half behind five points from White in the opening minutes. The Roadrunners scored six-straight points to lead 14-12 with 12:04 remaining in the half. The Lancers answered with a six-point run of their own to take the 18-14 lead with 9:00 remaining in the half. Juniors Brittany Jones|Richmond (North Florida) and Brittanni Billups|Goldsboro, N.C. (Eastern Wayne) and sophomore Crystal Smith|Richmond (Meadowbrook) each scored a basket during the run. The hosts slowly pulled ahead by one at 19-18 after a pair of free throws by Jana Smith. White answered with a three-pointer, but Williams drained a three-pointer and added a jumper to keep the hosts ahead 24-21 with 4:38 remaining. White added another three-pointer to give the Lancers the 26-25 lead with 3:11 remaining. The teams traded baskets before Nikki Leon made a pair of free throws to put the Roadrunners ahead 29-28 with 1:03 remaining in the first half. Breana Fields made a conventional three-point play to give the hosts the 32-28 halftime lead. White scored 11 points in the first half for the Lancers.

Williams hit a three-pointer to put CSUB ahead 35-28 with 18:37 remaining in the game. The Lancers cut the lead to six at 46-40 after a traditional three-point play by Smith with 13:39 remaining, but the Roadrunners went on a 19-5 run over the next 6:03 to lead 65-45 with 7:36 remaining in the game. Williams scored 11 points during the run. LU cut the lead to 14 with 5:47 remaining but a three-pointer by Kristine Herman and a pair of free throws by Williams pushed the lead back to 19 with 4:17 remaining. CSUB had a 73-54 lead with 2:34 remaining as the Lancers went on a 16-5 run to close the game and make the final score 78-70.

Longwood shot 46% (29-63) from the floor, including 57.1% (8-14) from behind the arc, and 57.1% (4-7) from the foul line. White scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds with four assists while sophomore Erin Neal|Durham, N.C. (Hillside) scored five points with five assists. Smith added 13 points as she fouled out in just 19 minutes. The Lancers outrebounded the Roadrunners 41-38 and scored 38 points in the paint. Sophomore Heather Tobeck|La Porte, Texas (La Porte) scored six points with six rebounds and four blocks.

CSUB shot 38.3% (23-60) from the floor, including 52.6% (10-19) from behind the arc, and 62.9% (22-35) from the foul line. The Roadrunners were led by Williams with a game-high 234 points and Leon with 17 points and four assists. Fields added eight points, seven rebounds and seven steals.