January 19, 2005
BOX SCORE
Norfolk, Va. – Longwood University dropped a 67-61 women’s basketball decision to host Norfolk State this evening at Echols Hall in Norfolk Va.. The loss drops the Lancers overall record to 6-12, while the Spartans improved their record to 4-11. Longwood was led by senior forward Ashley Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) who scored a game-high 20 points, while adding a team-high nine rebounds and three steals. Longwood with be back in action Sunday, January 22 when they play at Atlantic Coast Conference member Boston College. Game time is slated for 2:00 p.m.
Longwood controlled the first seven minutes of the game and held a 7-5 lead after Ashley Mason made a layup at the 16:24 mark. Norfolk State used a quick 5-0 spurt to take its first lead of the game when Jasmine Wilson converted a three-point and hit a jumper which gave the Spartans a 10-7 advantage with 13:19 to play in the first stanza.
Longwood regained the lead with its own 5-0 run, which included two made free throws by senior forward Amber Mason/Virginia Beach (Princess Anne) and a three-pointer by sophomore guard Leigh Mascherin/Greensboro, N.C. (Ragsdale). But with the Lancers leading 16-12 at the 7:26 mark, the Spartans scored 10-straight points to recapture the lead and hold a 22-16 edge with a little over five minutes to play in the first half. Longwood was able to cut the lead to two, 24-22, when Ashley Mason made a layup at 3:31, but Norfolk State closed out the first half with a 9-2 run to hold a 33-24 lead at halftime.
The Spartans quickly built their lead to double-digits after Ashley Bowman hit a jumper to open the second half, but the Lancers responded with a 10-2 run to slice NSU’s advantage to three at 37-34. Ashley Mason capped off LU’s run with a layup at the 16:17 mark.
Norfolk State used an 11-2 spurt of its own to gain its second double-digit lead of the game at 46-36 with 13:30 remaining.
NSU continued to hold LU at bay until the 4:27 mark. With the Spartans leading by 12 the Lancers started to mount a comeback. Ashley Mason made two free throws and a layup, while sophomore guard Keiva Small/Norfolk State (Norview) drained a three-pointer to slice NSU’s lead to five, 63-58, at the 2:07 mark.
The game stayed knotted at 63-58 until CaSandra Smith of NSU made a break-away layup with 16 seconds left to give the Spartans the seven-point edge. Longwood could not overcome the deficit and dropped the close six-point game.
Besides Ashley Mason, Longwood was led by Small and Mascherin, who both scored nine points apiece. Small also added seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. The Lancers finished the game shooting 32.8% (22-67) from the field, including 23.8% (5-21) on three-pointers and was 57.1% (12-21) from the charity stripe.
Norfolk State had three players finish in double-digit points, including Bowman and Johnson who both scored 19 points a piece. The Spartans finished the game shooting 45.8% (27-59) from the field, including 29.4% (5-17) on three-pointers, and was 57.1% (8-14) from the free throw line.
