Box Score

RELEIGH, N.C. – The Longwood University women's basketball team dropped a 102-49 decision to North Carolina State University (3-0) of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Thursday evening in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Lancers (1-2) were led by senior Chelsea Coward|Mechanicsville, who notched a career-high six three-point field goals en route to tallying a game-high and personal-best 29 points. Longwood returns to Willett Hall in Farmville to host Murray State University of the Ohio Valley Conference on Saturday, November 17 at 2 p.m. in the squad's final home game before an eight-game road swing.

NC State won the opening tip and scored a quick jumper, but the Lancers answered with a deep three from Coward to take their only lead of the game at 3-2. The Wolfpack offense went to work, taking its largest lead of the half, up 20-5, with 13:43 to play in the first. Longwood retaliated with a 14-9 run to shrink the deficit to just seven, making it a 29-22 game with just over nine minutes left in the half. NCSU outscored LU, 22-2, in the final minutes of the period to take a 51-24 advantage into halftime.

Coming out of the break, senior Mieke Elkington|Hamilton, New Zealand hit a jumper and freshman Daeisha Brown|Richmond converted on a free throw before NC State began to extend its lead. Coward scored 11 points in a row for LU, while the Wolfpack combined for 16 points to take a 76-38 lead with 10:48 left in the contest. Senior Crystal Smith|Richmond followed with a three-point jumper of her own, but NCSU tallied 24 points compared to eight for Longwood throughout the remainder of the game to seal the victory.

Coward's 12 first-half points all came from beyond the arc. In addition to her career-high 29 points, she added five rebounds, five blocks and three steals in the outing. Freshman Khalilah Ali|Suffolk totaled seven points and five boards on the night, while Smith notched six points. As a team, Longwood shot 28% (16-58) from the floor, 31% (9-29) from three-point territory and 57% (8-14) from the foul line.

Eight NC State team members scored in double-figures to lead the Wolfpack to victory. Breezy Williams tallied team highs with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Marissa Kastanek and Markeisha Gatling added to the offensive effort with 13 points apiece. The Wolfpack shot 46% (35-77) from the field, including 31% (5-16) from beyond the arc, and 73% (27-37) from the line.

Thursday's contest marked the third meeting ever between Longwood and NC State. With tonight's victory, the Wolfpack holds a 3-0 edge in the all-time series.