January 9, 2007
BOX SCORE
High Point, N.C.—Longwood women’s basketball struggled on the offensive side of the floor in Tuesday’s 59-41 set back at High Point, N. C.. Courtney Dyer/Richmond (Monacan) recorded a game-high ten points, for her fifth double-digit performance in the last six games. The Lancers fall to 5-13 on the season while High Point moves to 7-7 on the year. Longwood looks to get back on the winning track, when they return to the floor on Thursday, January 11, traveling to Radford for a 7 p.m. tip-off with the Highlanders.
Anna Steg/Fairfax (George C. Marshall) put the Lancers on the board, grabbing a rebound and laying it in as time was winding down on the thirty-second shot clock for the early 2-0 lead. The Panthers came storming back, going on a 6-0 run the next three minutes, before Steg hit a lay-up to bring the Lancers back within two. Jennifer Long hit a three to put the Panthers up by 12, forcing Longwood to take a thirty-second timeout with 8:59 remaining in the opening half.
The Panthers were able to outscore the Lancers 10-5 in the final nine minutes to grab a 27-10 halftime lead. Longwood’s ten points at halftime was the lowest point total and shooting percentage, 10.3, for the Lancers this season.
Candyce Sellars gave High Point a 31-12 lead early in the second half, making a steal on the defensive end and finishing on the other end for the 19 point lead. The Lancers and Panthers exchanged free-throws for the next two minutes, before Abbey Freese/West Liberty, Ohio (West Liberty-Salem) hit a three-pointer to bring Longwood within 16 with 14:23 remaining in the game. Steg hit a pair of free throws a minute later to cut the deficit to 14 and Keiva Small/Norfolk (Norview) hit the front end of a pair of free throws at the 9:07 mark to bring the Lancers within 13 of the Panthers’ lead. But the struggles on offensive proved to be the difference maker, as Longwood was unable to capitalize on opportunities down the stretch.
“We played a lot better in the second half,” stated head coach Pamela Bass. “Our defense is improving but we still need to capitalize on the boards and get the one and down mentality. The first half shows how important defense is because there are times when shots don’t fall and solid defense can make up for it. We are improving each day and each game, but so is the talent of our opponents.”
Steg was a force on the boards, grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds, including seven on the offensive side, while also contributing six points in the loss. Small finished the game with nine points, while Amber Sims/Lawrenceville (Brunswick Senior) pulled down nine rebounds in the loss.
“Anna was huge for us on the boards,” said Bass. “Tonight’s game was another great learning experience for us, as we were able to handle High Point’s pressure on the press and will take it with us on Thursday when we face a tough Radford squad.”
