ELON, N.C. – Marita Meldere posted 13 points and a game-high 17 rebounds to propel Longwood to a 57-51 non-conference women’s basketball victory over Elon Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Gym.
A pair of buckets by Meldere and a jumper by Amber Mason put the Lancers (8-9) up 6-0 with 17:13 to play in the first half. The Phoenix (2-16) stormed back with a 16-4 run to take a 16-10 lead on a three-point basket by Jessica Williams with 6:49 remaining in the period.
Longwood responded with a 14-4 surge to go ahead 24-20 on a post move by Meldere with 2:13 left before the break. The Lancers claimed a 24-21 halftime advantage and eventually stretched their lead to 39-33 on a lay-up by Ashley Mason with 9:05 left on the clock.
Elon rallied back with a 9-2 spurt to push ahead one final time at 42-41 on a fast break score by Katie Whidden with 4:57 remaining. Longwood charged back with a 12-2 run to build a 53-44 cushion on a pair of free throws by Ashley Mason with 28 seconds to play and the Phoenix could not recover.
In a contest that featured five ties and four lead changes, the Lancers forged advantages in second chance points (14-8), rebounding (52-40), assists (14-13) and steals (13-10). Elon held edges in points in the paint (26-16), points off turnovers (17-11), bench points (24-15), turnovers (18-21) and blocked shots (7-3).
Longwood fired 33.9 percent (20 of 59) from the field – including 26.7 percent (four of 15) from three-point land – and 59.1 percent (13 of 22) from the free throw line. The Phoenix shot 32.3 percent (20 of 62) from the floor – including 22.7 percent (five of 22) from beyond the arc – and 35.5 percent (six of 17) from the charity stripe.
For the Lancers, Amber Mason knocked down a contest-best 14 points and hauled in 11 rebounds while Ashley Mason chipped in 12 markers and Keiva Small pulled down eight caroms. For Elon, Brianne Gray tallied 12 points in just 15 minutes off of the bench while Whidden grabbed eight boards and Nikko King and Nicole Allison each cleaned the glass for seven.
Longwood hosts Texas-Pan American at 7 p.m. Friday and the Phoenix will return to Southern Conference action when Wofford visits Alumni Gym at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
– ELON – Game Box Score
