Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Longwood University women's basketball team fell, 91-58, at Big South Conference opponent Liberty University (15-6, 7-2) on Saturday afternoon. The Lancers (9-11, 6-3) were led by three double-digit scorers, including senior Mieke Elkington|Hamilton, New Zealand with a team- and season-high 15 points. Longwood returns to action on Thursday, January 31, as the squad continues its road trip with a contest at league opponent Coastal Carolina University beginning at 7 p.m.

Longwood won the opening tip and took an early 8-2 lead with a pair of threes from Elkington and a layup from freshman Deborah Headen|Herndon. The teams traded buckets until Longwood scored six straight points to take its largest lead of the game, up 16-8, with 14:21 still to play in the first half. Liberty answered with an 18-3 run, taking a 26-19 advantage at 8:06. Longwood closed the gap to make it a one possession game at 28-25 with a layup from freshman Daeisha Brown|Richmond, a three-pointer from freshman Raven Williams|Richmond and a free throw from senior Chelsea Coward|Mechanicsville. Liberty would not let it stay close for long, though, as the Flames scored the final 12 points of the half to take a 40-25 advantage into the break.

Coming out of halftime, Liberty outscored Longwood, 12-2, pulling ahead 52-27 with 16:18 remaining in the contest. The hosts maintained at least a 22-point buffer until Longwood scored 11 unanswered points to make it a 68-49 game with just over seven minutes still to play. The Lancers pulled within 19 on two more occasions, at 70-51 and at 72-53, but would not come any closer. The Flames closed the game on a 19-5 run to seal the 91-58 victory.

Elkington tied a season-high with three, three-pointers en route to her team-best 15 points. Coward and Brown rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Lancers with 12 and 11 points, respectively. Senior Erin Neal|Durham, N.C. paced LU with five rebounds, as well. As a team, the Lancers shot 30% (20-66) from the floor, including 33% (7-21) from beyond the arc, and 61% (11-18) from the line.

Devon Brown posted a game-high 21 points to lead Liberty. Brittany Campbell and Tolu Omotola added 19 and 15 points, respectively, as well. As a whole, the Flames shot 50% (36-72) from the field, 39% (7-18) from three-point territory and 80% (12-15) from the foul line. Liberty will play its next contest at Campbell on Jan. 31 beginning at 7 p.m.

Saturday's contest marked the 29th meeting ever between Longwood and Liberty in the sport of women's basketball. The Lancers still hold a slight, 15-14 advantage in the all-time series.