February 16, 2010

BOX SCORE

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Longwood University women's basketball dropped an 81-40 decision to the 18th-ranked University of Virginia of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Tuesday night in Charlottesville. Freshman Chelsea Coward/Mechanicsville (Hanover) led the Lancers (7-18) with 18 points and four rebounds. Virginia (20-6) was led by Simone Egwu with 18 points and 16 rebounds. The Lancers return to action on Saturday, February 20, when they face Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia, at 2 p.m.. Longwood defeated SSU 79-48 last Saturday in Farmville.

Longwood fell behind early as the Cavaliers controlled the opening tip and Lexie Gerson made a layup only five seconds into the game. Longwood kept it a two point game at 11-9 with 17:05 remaining in the first half before Virginia went on a 6-0 run, capped off by a pair of free throws by Monica Wright. The Cavaliers' lead slowly grew over the rest of the first half and Longwood went in to halftime down 18 at 42-24. Coward had nine points (4-6 FG) at halftime while the Lancers shot 34.5% (10-29) from the floor. Virginia slowly extended its lead in the second half and finished strong, going on a 9-1 run over the final four minutes of the game to make the final score 81-40.

Coward led Longwood with 18 points while junior Krystal Garrison/Fredericksburg (Courtland) and sophomore Brittanni Billups/Goldsboro, N.C. (Eastern Wayne) each scored seven points. Senior Becky Fernandes/Fort Belvoir (Bishop Ireton) grabbed four rebounds with four steals and two assists. Longwood shot 26.9% (14-52) from the floor, including 22.2% (4-18) from three, and 61.5% (8-13) from the foul line. Longwood had 14 steals and turned 23 Virginia turnovers in to 13 points.

Egwu was one of five UVa players in double figures. Wright finished with 13 points while Gerson and Britny Edwards each scored 12. The Cavaliers shot 50.8% (33-65) from the floor, including 20.0% (2-10) from three, and 72.2% (13-18) from the foul line. Virginia outrebounded Longwood 54-22 and turned 20 offensive rebounds in to 13 second chance points. The Cavaliers dominated inside, outscoring Longwood 58-12 in the paint.