Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – The Longwood University women's basketball team used a 17-6 run late in the second half en route to defeating Big South Conference opponent Gardner-Webb University (7-6, 0-2), 87-75, on Thursday evening in Farmville. Senior Crystal Smith|Richmond led all scorers with a career-high 32 points. Three other Lancers also scored in double figures, as senior Chelsea Coward|Mechanicsville tallied 18, freshman Daeisha Brown|Richmond posted 14 and senior Mieke Elkington|Hamilton, New Zealand recorded 11. Longwood (5-8, 2-0) returns to action on Saturday, January 5 when the squad welcomes Winthrop University for a 5 p.m. tilt.

The Runnin' Bulldogs scored first, but the Lancers followed with a deep three from Coward to take their only lead of the half at 3-2 less than a minute into the contest. GWU quickly regained the lead, but Longwood was able to stay within two possessions until the visitors scored 14 unanswered points to create their largest margin of the game, up 30-12, with 9:06 left to play in the first. Brown and Smith converted on free throw opportunities to end the drought for LU and helped the team begin to chip away at the deficit, as Longwood outscored Gardner-Webb, 14-5, in the next five minutes to make it a 35-27 game with less than four minutes remaining in the period. The teams traded baskets before the half expired, as GWU took a 41-35 advantage into the break.

Longwood opened the second half with an 11-5 run to tie the game for the first time at 46-46 with 16:15 still to play. The teams were knotted once again at 48-48, but the Lancers scored nine straight points to pull ahead, 57-48, with 13:21 remaining. GWU fought back with a 14-4 streak to reclaim the lead at 62-61 with 9:35 left in the game. The squads were tied twice more before Coward hit a layup to give the Lancers the lead for good with just over six minutes to go. Gardner-Webb pulled within one at 70-69, but Longwood would not relinquish the lead, as the home squad outscored the visitors, 17-6, in the final minutes to seal the 87-75 victory.

Smith, the night's high-scorer, was perfect at the line, setting a new career best with 12 made free throws, in addition to leading the team with six rebounds. Coward, who added to the offensive effort with 18 points, shot 50% (3-6) on three-pointers. As a team, the Lancers shot 35% (27-77) from the floor, including 33% (9-27) from beyond the arc, and 86% (24-28) from the line to combine for a season-high 87 points.

Gardner-Webb had three double-figure scorers in the outing. Jasmine Dale led the team with 16 points, while Jessica Heilig and Catrina Green added 12 points apiece. As a whole, the Runnin' Bulldogs shot 55% (28-51) from the field, 71% (5-7) from three-point territory and 67% (14-21) from the foul line. Gardner-Webb will play its next contest at High Point University on Jan. 5 beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Thursday's contest marked the ninth meeting between Longwood and Gardner-Webb in the sport of women's basketball. Gardner-Webb still holds a slight, 5-4 advantage in the all-time series.