1.10.2012

Box Score

OREM, Utah - Longwood University dropped a 64-59 women's basketball decision at Utah Valley University on Tuesday evening in Orem, Utah. The Lancers (3-16) trailed by 13 with 13:04 remaining before cutting the lead to 58-56 with 1:24 remaining. Longwood was led by junior Crystal Smith|Richmond (Meadowbrook) with 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while classmate Mieke Elkington|Hamilton, New Zealand (Cochise College) added 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Utah Valley (7-9) was led by Sammie Jensen with 17 points and 13 rebounds. The Lancers return to action on Saturday, January 14, when it hosts the New Jersey Institute of Technology at 2 p.m. in Willett Hall in Farmville. It is 'Take A Kid To The Game' day, with free admission to all youth 18 and under.

Longwood opened up an early 10-5 lead with 15:25 remaining. Utah Valley took the 13-12 lead with 11:45 remaining after a three-pointer by Ashley Klemz. The Lancers regained the lead after back-to-back layups by senior Brittanni Billups|Goldsboro, N.C. (Eastern Wayne) and junior Erin Neal|Durham, N.C. (Hillside), then maintained the 18-15 lead after a jumper by Elkington with 7:41 remaining. The hosts took the lead, and led by as many as four, before a three-pointer by junior Chelsea Coward|Mechanicsville (Hanover) trimmed the lead to 24-23 with 1:39 remaining. The Wolverines led 27-25 at halftime.

In the second half, Utah Valley led 30-29 with 17:51 remaining after a jumper by Billups. The Lancers scored their next seven points at the foul line and did not make a shot from the floor until a three-pointer by junior Heather Tobeck|La Porte, Texas (La Porte) with 11:18 remaining cut the Longwood deficit to seven (46-39). The Lancers had trailed by as many as 13 points (44-31) with 13:04 remaining. Neal made a free throw, then Jensen made a pair of foul shots to push the lead to eight (48-40) with 10:08 remaining. Elkington hit a three-pointer with 4:55 remaining to trim the deficit to 54-49. The Lancers still trailed by five, then Crystal Smith drained a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 58-56 with 1:24 remaining. Jensen converted a traditional three-point play, then Cydne Mason made a pair of foul shots to lead 63-56 with 0:45 left in the game. Crystal Smith made another three-pointer to cut the lead to four (63-59) with 0:40 remaining. The hosts made one free throw the rest of the way to win 64-59.

Crystal Smith paced the Lancers with 15 points (4-16 FG, 2-7 3FG, 5-6 FT), eight rebounds and six assists. Elkington added her first double-double with 10 points (4-13 FG, 1-4 3FG, 1-2 FT) and 13 rebounds. Neal added 10 points (2-7 FG, 6-8 FT) in her first appearance since December 22. Longwood shot 28.8% (19-66) from the floor, including 31.3% (5-16) from behind the arc, and 80% (16-20) from the foul line. The Lancers turned 14 Utah Valley turnovers in to 23 points and were out-rebounded 46-45.

Jensen led the Wolverines with 17 points (6-17 FG, 1-3 3FG, 4-5 FT) and 13 rebounds. Whitney Jenkins and Jenna Johnson added nine points each. UVU shot 33.9% (20-59) from the floor, including 25% (4-16) from behind the arc, and 64.5% (20-31) from the foul line. The Wolverines scored 24 points in the paint and received 23 points from the bench.

Longwood and Utah Valley have met four times in women's basketball, with the Wolverines leading the series 3-1. The home team has won all three meetings.