December 10, 2005
BOX SCOREHIGH POINT, N.C. – Longwood University dropped a 76-68 women’s basketball decision to High Point University this evening at the Millis Athletic Center in High Point, N.C. The setback drops the Lancers overall record to 2-7, while the Panthers improved their record to 5-3 with the win. Longwood was led by senior forward Amber Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) who finished with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds; both team-highs. The Lancers will be back in action Saturday, December 17 when they welcome Morgan State to Willett Hall. Game time is slated for 4:00 p.m.
It was a close played first half, as neither team led by more than four points over the first 12 minutes of the game. With High Point leading 14-12 at the 10:44 mark, Longwood scored six-straight points to take a four-point lead; its largest of the half. Freshman guard Courtney Dyer/Richmond (Monacan) started off the run for the Lancers when she drained a three-pointer off an assist by senior guard Jessica Wilkerson/Roanoke (Norview). After a steal by Mason, Dyer converted a three-point play to increase LU’s advantage to 18-14.
After a layup by Wilkerson gave the Lancers a 20-16 advantage at the 8:37 mark, the Panthers buckled down on defense and held Longwood scoreless over the next four minutes. High Point took advantage of LU’s drought by building a five-point lead, 25-20, off the strength of Katie O’Dell, who scored five of her 16 first half points over the span.
Longwood, who was down by as many as nine points late in the first half, was able to cut its halftime deficit to six when sophomore guard Keiva Small/Norfolk (Norview) made a layup with eight ticks left on the clock.
A quick 7-2 spurt by Longwood to start off the second half cut High Point’s lead to 36-35. Freshman center Anna Steg/Fairfax (George C. Marshall) scored two buckets, while Mason hit a three-pointer for the Lancers.
The Panthers followed the Lancers spurt with an 18-7 run of their own to take a double-digit lead at 54-42 with 14:56 to play in the contest. Candyce Sellars capped off High Point’s run with three consecutive three-pointers.
Sophomore forward Leigh Mascherin/Greensboro (Ragsdale) drained a three-pointer and a hit a jumper, while Small made a layup to cut HPU’s advantage to five, 54-49, at the 10:38 mark, but High Point would not let Longwood get any closer as it pushed its lead back to double-digits after O’Dell drained her third three-pointer of the night to make it 63-53 with 7:43 to play in the game.
The Lancers made one last run, cutting the Panthers lead to seven, 67-60, after Mason sank two free throws, but High Point put the game out of reach after Sellars hit two three-pointers and Katie Ralls followed with a three-pointer of her own to give High Point its largest lead of the game, 76-62, at the 1:35 mark.
Besides Mason, the Lancers had three other players finish with double-digit points. Mascherin scored a career-high 14 points, while Small and Steg both chipped in 10 points a piece. Longwood finished the game shooting 43.3% (26-60) from the field, including 35.3% (6-17) on three-pointers, and was 58.8% (10-17) at the free throw line.
Sellars finished with a game-high 31 points for the Panthers, while O’Dell added a double-double of 25 points and 11 rebounds. High Point finished the game shooting 47.0% (31-66) from the floor, including 50.0% (12-24) on three-pointers, and was 25.0% (2-8) at the charity stripe.
