November 14, 2008

Game Notes

FARMVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University women's basketball team will get an early start to the 2008-09 season, playing two teams in two days. The Lancers head to Elon, North Carolina for the Elon Tournament, where they will take on UNC Wilmington and host Elon in Alumni Gym.
    
The Lancers return to the court after ending last season 16-13, which included a five game win streak to end the 2007-08 campaign. The Lancers were one of a select few teams to be named to the NCAA Most Improved teams list at the conclusion of last year.
   
A Look At Longwood
Longwood is 0-1 all time against UNC Wilmington, falling to the Seahawks in 2004-05 by a score of 64-58. The Lancers have battled Elon a total of 19 times,defeating the Phoenix seven times. In the teams last meeting, Elon got the better of the Lancers, winning the game 65-39.
   
Longwood enters this season without its leading scorer from last season, Keiva Small. The Lancers do however return leading rebounder Anna Steg, who averaged 6.2 rebounds a game last season. Also returning to the Lancers lineup will be captains Amber Sims, Becky Fernandes and Mallory Short.     

A Lancer Win Would
-Continue Longwood's five game win streak to close out the 2007-08 season
-Give the Lancers their 24th opening game victory in 39 seasons
-Give Longwood its first opening game victory since transitioning to Division I
-Give the Lancers their first victory over UNC Wilmington

A Lancer Loss Would
-Give the Lancers their second consecutive opening game loss

The Last Time Out
Longwood and UNC Wilmington have only met once in the programs history, with UNC Wilmington having a 1-0 advantage. The two teams met during the 2004-05 season, with the Seahawks winning the game 64-58. The Lancers have met the Phoenix a total of 19 times in the schools history with Elon owning a winning record against Longwood (12-7). The two teams last tangled during the 2006-07 campaign with Elon winning the game 65-39.

• The Lancers last meet UNC Wilmington during the 2004-05, where they fell 64-58
• Longwood and Elon have matched-up 19 times, with Elon leading the series 7-12
• Anna Steg led the Lancers in minutes against Elon, registering 38 minutes and seven total points
• In the Elon game the Lancers committed 27 turnovers

Who's Hot
Freshman Sierra Fletcher is off to a quick start, netting 17 points in the Lancers exhibition against MI?Express. The 5-5 guard put the pressure on in the second half of the game, draining two three's and three field goals, while sinking both of her free throws. Senior Anna Steg also had a good night, recording a double-double (13 points, 14 rebounds).

Who's Not
The Lancers turned the ball over 19 times, while committing 23 personal fouls in their victory over MI Express.

A Look At UNC Wilmington
The Seahawks return eight letterwinners and four starters from last season's squad that went 17-14 overall and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Colonial Athletic Association Championship for the second straight season. UNCW is the only team in the CAA that returns three double-figure scorers. Sophomore Brittany Blackwell and Senior Sahsha Taylor were named to the preseason All-CAA squads at the league's media day in late October. Blackwell, the reigning CAA Rookie-of-the-Year and Second-Team All-CAA honoree, was a preseason First-Team selection while Taylor, a Third-Team member last season, was a preseason Second-Team pick.

A Loot At Elon

The Phoenix, which returns just 22 points and 16 rebounds from last season's squad, has the opportunity to build from the ground up under Barefoot, who begins her first year at Elon.  The team looks to be one of the youngest in the nation, returning 12 underclassmen, including eight freshmen and one redshirt freshman.

Also returning for Elon is Tiffany Davis, who finished third on the team in points per game last season.  Fellow juniors Amber Wall and Ursyla Cotton, who look to play an instrumental role in the development of the younger players, join Davis.