GWU Falls to Longwood, 70-62, in Non-Conference Play Sunday Afternoon
December 09, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Boiling Springs, N.C. - Despite shooting 60.9 percent from the field overall as a team in the first half and a game-high 20 points from junior guard Jasmine Dale, the Runnin' Bulldogs' struggled to find any type of offense in the second half to fall to the Longwood Lancers 70-62 in non-conference play on in Paul Porter Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Although Longwood joined the Big South Conference in the summer of 2012, the game was a non-conference match up since it was already scheduled prior to the Lancers joining the conference.
The loss is GWU's second straight and puts the Runnin' Bulldogs at 4-4 on the year, while Longwood improves to 2-6 with the win.
Dale led the way with a game-high 20 points, 14 of which came in the first half of play, as she was 4-of-5 from behind the three-point line. Freshman Olivia Parker, who made her first career start on Sunday, had 12 points and six rebounds, as the forward was 5-of-6 from the field. Junior Catrina Green added nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks, while sophomore guard Mayhana Dunovant dished out a game-high six assists.
Longwood was led by a trio of double digit scorers headlined by Crystal Smith's 16 points and six assists, while freshman Raven Williams and senior Chelsea Coward added 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Gardner-Webb got off to a hot start from the opening tip, as Dale drained a three-pointer to start the scoring with 18:54 on the scoreboard.
After taking the lead back at 10-9 on a lay up down low by freshman forward Alicia Quinn with 15:50 to go on the clock, the Lancers went on an 11-2 run, highlighted by two three-pointers from Williams, to put the visitors on top by seven at 20-13 with 11:20 to go in the opening half.
Over the next seven minutes of play, GWU cut the lead the Longwood lead to one five different times, only to see the Lancers answer with a key shot to hold on to a four point lead at 34-30 with 3:32 remaining in the half.
A driving lay up by Dale, back-to-back free throws from freshman guard Doreen Richardson and another three-pointer by Dale over the next two minutes pushed the Runnin' Bulldogs in front by three at 37-34.
GWU's Richardson added a running lay up with just over a minute to play to put the home team on top by five at 39-34, only to see Longwood's Smith swish a late three-pointer with time winding down to put the halftime score at 39-37.
Longwood started the second half with a 10-2 run to retake the lead by six at 47-41 with 15:28 to play in the game, as the Runnin' Bulldogs offense was non-existent during that span.
Another jump shot by Dale at the 10:02 mark cut the Longwood lead to three at 48-45, however, the Runnin' Bulldogs failed to put together an offensive run and found themselves down by nine at 59-50 with 4:27 to go in the game.
Four free throws from Green and a lay up by Dale contributed to an 8-2 run by the home team to cut the Lancer lead back to three at 61-58 with 1:38 to go in the contest.
However, that was as close as the Runnin' Bulldogs would get for the remainder of the game, as Longwood hit 7-of-11 free throws down the stretch to hold off GWU for the 70-62 non-conference victory.
After shooting over 60 percent in the first half, Gardner-Webb shot only 34.8 percent in the second half to finish the game at 47.8 percent overall.
Gardner-Webb outscored the Lancers 33-18 in points in the paint and 10-7 in second chance points, yet Longwood held a 20-11 advantage in points off turnovers, as the Runnin' Bulldogs coughed the ball up 24 times for the game.
Despite the loss, GWU still holds a 5-3 advantage in the overall series on the hardwood.
Gardner-Webb (4-4) will return to non-conference action on Thursday night, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will host Davidson on Thursday night, December 13th, at 7 p.m., while Longwood (2-6) will remain on the road to take on Bucknell on Saturday, December 15th, at 4 p.m. in Lewisburg, Pa.
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| Box Score: Longwood 70, GWU 62 |
