NORFOLK, Va. – A 23-4 run in the game's opening 5:46 behind 9-of-9 shooting led Norfolk State to a 74-42 win over the Longwood women's basketball team Wednesday night inside Echols Hall.
Alexys Long sparked the game-opening run for the Spartans (4-5) with 13 of her game-high 16 points while going 5-of-5 from the floor over the opening 4:33. She led the Spartans to a red-hot 12-of-14 (.857) shooting clinic from the floor in the first quarter while her 13 points marked the most points allowed by Longwood to an opposing player in a single quarter this season.
The Lancers (1-5) were paced in the scoring column by
Kristina Antonenko, who finished with nine points.
Khaila Hall added eight points on 3-of-8 shooting while
Jada Russell finished with six points. Eight different Lancers found the scoring column, as the Spartan defense limited Longwood to a .250 shooting mark and the fewest points scored by a Lancer team that entered the game with the Big South's second-highest scoring output.
"We're trying so hard to develop our culture and we just didn't show enough fight tonight," said first-year head coach
Rebecca Tillett. "When a team jumps out to that type of lead early in the first quarter, it really tests us. I don't think we responded well and that's something we have to improve upon."
Long paced four Spartans in double figures with 16 points – all in the opening half -- while Norfolk State leading scorer Raven Russell added 13 points, nine rebounds. In addition, Kendrea Dawkins finished with 12 and Dana Echols also finished with 12 points. The Spartans (4-5) earned their fourth win in their past seven games, shooting the ball .438 from the floor.
Longwood's leading scorer a season ago, Antonenko paced the Lancers in scoring for the first time this season, as six of her nine points were scored in the second half. She added five rebounds while playing 29 minutes.
Mallory Odell brought down a team-high seven boards, as the conference's leading rebounder has led Longwood in five of six games this season.
Up next, Longwood will look to rebound, as the team returns to Willett Hall Saturday, Dec. 15 to welcome Mid-American Conference foe Eastern Michigan. That game is set for a 1 p.m. opening tip and will be streamed on ESPN+.
"Our focus has to be on our next two practices to learn from it and get better in order to prepare for Saturday," Tillett said.
#GoWood
