Box Score

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Longwood University women's basketball team took a one-point advantage early in the second half before dropping a 73-58 decision at in-state foe Virginia Tech (4-2) of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Saturday afternoon. Senior Crystal Smith|Richmond notched a career-high five three-point baskets en route to a game- and season-high 26 points for the Lancers (1-6). After a week off, Longwood returns to action when it travels to Gardner-Webb University on Sunday, December 9 for a 3 p.m. tilt.

The Hokies scored nine quick points to open the game before freshman Daeisha Brown|Richmond put the Lancers on the board with a three-point play. Smith tallied five straight points to cut the deficit to four, but VT responded with seven unanswered  to take its largest lead of the half, up 19-8, with 10 minutes left to play in the first. The Lancers' offense went to work, using an 11-2 run to pull within two and make it a 21-19 game with 6:18 remaining in the half. Virginia Tech regained a six point buffer, but Smith scored five more points in the final minutes of the period to send LU into the break down just one bucket at 28-26.

Longwood took its first and only lead of the game coming out of halftime, as Smith knocked down another three-point jumper to make it 29-28 with just over 19 minutes left to play. The Hokies regained the upper hand with a jumper on their next possession, but LU kept the game within a basket until the home squad scored five in a row to go up by eight at 39-31 with 14:29 still to go. Longwood cut the margin to six on a layup from senior Chelsea Coward|Mechanicsville, but would not come any closer, as VT outscored the visitors, 32-23, in the waning minutes of the game to seal the 73-58 victory.

Smith tallied 16 of her 26 points in the first half, including three jumpers from beyond the arc. She also made a season-high seven free throws (70%) in the outing. Coward and Brown added to the offensive effort with nine points apiece, while senior Mieke Elkington|Hamilton, New Zealand posted six points of her own. Freshman Khalilah Ali|Suffolk led the squad with six rebounds. As a whole, Longwood shot 37% (20-54) from the floor, 36% (8-22) from three-point territory and 77% (10-13) from the foul line.

Virginia Tech was paced by three double-figure scorers. Alyssa Fenyn posted a team-high 17 points, while Monet Tellier and Lauren Evans added 13 and 10 points, respectively. As a team, the Hokies shot 50% (29-58) from the field, including 44% (4-9) from beyond the arc, and 65% (11-17) from the line.

Saturday's contest marked the 10th meeting between Longwood and Virginia Tech in the sport of women's basketball. The Hokies now hold an 8-2 advantage in the all-time series.