Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University women's basketball team overcame a 17-point, first-half deficit by mounting a 37-12 run in the second to secure the 77-63 victory against Big South Conference opponent Coastal Carolina University (7-11, 2-6) on Saturday afternoon at Willett Hall in Farmville. Freshman Daeisha Brown|Richmond paced the Lancers (9-9, 6-1) with 26 points, while senior Crystal Smith|Richmond added 20 points. Senior Chelsea Coward|Mechanicsville posted her eighth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

“We still must work on our energy in the first half, but we continue to play very well after the break,” said head coach Bill Reinson. “Mieke Elkington was outstanding today. Every game, she continues to defend players who are much taller than her and plays them tough. Crystal (Smith) and Chelsea (Coward) get well deserved recognition for their play, but we wouldn't be where we are without Mieke.”

Longwood scored the first bucket of the game with a layup from Brown and would lead once more in the first half at 4-3 after senior Erin Neal|Durham, N.C. dished a strong pass to Brown for the jumper with 17:44 remaining in the period. The Coastal Carolina offense went to work, as a layup from Alexx Puckett sparked a 22-6 run, putting the Chanticleers on top, 25-10, with 8:10 still to play in the first half. Senior Mieke Elkington|Hamilton, New Zealand knocked down a jumper and Brown hit a three-pointer for the Lancers, but CCU took its largest lead of the game, up 32-15, at 7:31. The Chanticleers maintained at least a 13-point margin throughout the remainder of the period to head into halftime with a 38-25 advantage.

Smith converted on a layup coming out of the break to cut the Longwood deficit to 11, but the visitors led by 12 on two more occasions before Coward drained a deep three to ignite an 18-3 Lancer run, putting LU up, 47-44, with 13:31 left to play in the outing. Coastal cut the buffer to one on a pair of free throws, but would not come any closer, as Longwood outscored its opponent, 19-7, in the next six minutes to pull ahead by a score of 66-53 at 7:31. The Chanticleers quickly pushed the margin back to nine with four straight points, but Longwood closed the game on an 11-6 run to seal the 77-63 victory.   

With her 20 points, Smith is just eight shy of joining Longwood's prestigious 1,000 Point Club. Coward's 11 boards tied the game high and her four assists marked a new season high. Elkington added to the Lancers' effort with eight points and a season-high 10 rebounds. As a team, the Lancers shot 42% (25-60) from the floor, including 33% (5-15) from beyond the arc, and 79% (22-28) from the line.

Three Chanticleers posted 11 points in the outing. AJ Jordan notched a double-double with 11 points and rebounds, while Katelyn Connor and Shatia Cole totaled 11 points, as well. As a whole, the Chanticleers shot 34% (22-65) from the field, 21% (3-14) from three-point territory and 76% (16-21) from the foul line. Coastal will play its next contest against Winthrop on Jan. 24 beginning at 7 p.m.

Saturday's contest marked just the third meeting ever between Longwood and Coastal Carolina in the sport of women's basketball. The Lancers hold an undefeated 3-0 record in the all-time series.