Box Score
FARMVILLE, VA – Longwood's point guard Becky Fernandes scored a career-high 33 points leading three-double figure scorers en route to an 84-80 overtime victory over visiting New Jersey Institute of Technology Sunday afternoon at Willet Hall.
NJIT's junior forward Taiwo Oyelola, sank two free throws with 2.7 seconds left to go in regulation knotting the score at 72 pushing the game into overtime but it was Longwood's Fernandes who hit critical points in overtime for the Lancers sealing the game.
Sophomore Adriana Johnson had given the Highlanders a 75-74 lead as she hit a jumper from the baseline with 3:27 left, but Longwood pulled ahead for good as Fernandes hit two free throws at the 3:01 mark. Longwood went on to win by shooting 6-for-8 at the foul line in the last minute.
Today's game marks the fourth meeting between the two teams with Longwood leading the series 3-1. The last time the two teams met was March 2, 2008 with Longwood taking a 60-49 victory.
The Highlanders were led by Jessica Gerald with a team-high 23 points. Taiwo Oyelola posted her first double-double of the season finishing with 11 points and pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds. The 12 rebounds is a season-high. Twin sister Kehinde Oyelola set a career-high with 19 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for the Highlanders. She surpasses her old mark of 17 points against Norfolk State (Nov. 18, 2006) and nine rebounds against Saint Peter's (Nov. 28, 2006) and Texas-Pan American (March 7, 2008). Sophomore Ivana Seric chipped in nine points – eight coming in the first half.
Contributing to the Longwood offense was freshman Sierra Fletcher with 13 points – nine from behind the arc. Amber Sims added 12 points and five rebounds and Crystal Garrison had 11 points off the bench for the Lancers.
Longwood led at halftime 34-25, as NJIT rallied back down 10 with 6:05 left to go in the game.
A three-pointer by Kehinde Oyelola from the top of the key at 5:11 pulled the Highlanders within seven. Longwood answered going up nine at the 4:10 mark.
The Highlanders scored back-to-back baskets, the first on a lay-up by freshman Ash'Lee Smith and the second from the free throw line by Kehinde Oyelola with 1:46 left to go in the half and only down by three, 67-64.
Longwood's Fernandes hit two free throws of her own going up five at the 1:29 mark. Kehinde Oyelola made a strong move to the hoop finishing an old fashioned three-point play at 1:16. The score became 69-67.
Fernandes came down the court with 43 seconds left on the scoreboard and hit a jumper just outside the paint going up four, 71-67. NJIT pulled within one point on a three-pointer from Gerald with 36 seconds left making the score 71-70. Taiwo Oyelola sank two free throws with 2.7 seconds left to go in regulation knotting the score at 72.
NJIT returns to action on Wednesday, January 7 when they travel to Amherst, Massachusetts and take on University of Massachusetts. Tip off is scheduled for 7:00pm.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams.
