February 20, 2010

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Longwood University women's basketball team never trailed and picked up their second road win of the season at Savannah State University 60-36 on Saturday afternoon in Savannah, Georgia. The Lancers (8-18) were led by freshman Crystal Smith/Richmond (Meadowbrook) with 16 points (6-12 FG) and sophomore Brittanni Billups/Goldsboro, N.C. (Eastern Wayne) with 15 points (9-12 FT). Savannah State (9-20) was paced by Ashlee Barley with eight points. The Lancers completed the season sweep of Savannah State, also defeating the Tigers last Saturday. Longwood returns to action on Friday, February 26, when they travel to Durham, North Carolina, to take on North Carolina Central University at 6:30 p.m..

Longwood jumped out to an 8-0 lead with 15:29 remaining in the first half. The Lancers matched every Savannah State basket and slowly pulled ahead, leading by 13 at 26-13 on a layup by sophomore Morgan Smith/Williamsport, Md. (Williamsport) with 1:56 remaining in the first half. The teams traded baskets again and Longwood went into halftime with the 28-15 lead. The Lancers extended the lead to start the second half, pushing the advantage to 34-15 with 16:15 remaining in the game. The Tigers trimmed the Longwood lead to 12 at 48-36 with 4:50 remaining but Longwood went on a 12-0 run and held SSU scoreless for the rest of the game to win 60-36.

Crystal Smith led Longwood with 16 points and added four assists and four rebounds. Billups scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds which tied the game high. Morgan Smith was the third Lancer in double-figures with 10 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Emma Zieverink/West Chester, Ohio (Lakota West) added six points while senior Becky Fernandes/Fort Belvoir (Bishop Ireton) scored four points with five rebounds, four steals and three assists. Longwood shot 44.7% (21-47) from the floor, including 9.1% (1-11) from three, and 68.0% (17-25) from the foul line. Freshman Heather Tobeck/La Porte, Texas (La Porte) is now tied for third on the Longwood single-season block list with 45 blocks after swatting five shots today. She is three blocks away from tying the single-season record. Longwood outrebounded Savannah State 37-32 and scored 10 second-chance points.

Savannah State was led by Barley with eight points while Mattisha Mangum added seven points and Crissa jackson scored six points. The Tigers shot 27.5% (14-51) from the floor, including 8.3% (1-12) from three, and 87.5% (7-8) from the foul line. The Tigers turned the ball over 27 times and Longwood turned those turnovers in to 29 points.

Longwood and Savannah State have now met 11 times in women's basketball with Longwood leading the series 7-4, including winning the past three contests.