FARMVILLE, Va. - In 2012-13, the Longwood University women's basketball team made a statement in its first year as part of the Big South Conference. After being selected 11th in the league's preseason polls, the squad made history at the VisitMyrtleBeach.com Big South Women's Basketball Championship with three-straight postseason wins en route to an appearance in the tournament's title game. This season, fourth-year head coach Bill Reinson and his 2013-14 Lancers hope to use last year's progress as a building block in order to move the program forward in its second year in the Big South.

"Everyone is very excited for the upcoming season," said Reinson. "We had some success last year and have been working diligently to build upon that in 2013. At times last season, I feel like we may have been overlooked since it was our first in the Big South. That won't be the case this time around."

Longwood, a young squad that features just two upperclassmen, will look to a talented group of six sophomores for leadership this season. Daeisha Brown, a 5-3 sophomore guard and 2013-14 Big South Preseason All-Conference Team selection, is the team's only returning starter from last season. She is joined by classmates Raven Williams, a 5-8 guard and Khalilah Ali, a 6-0 guard/forward, along with 5-9 guards Deborah Headen, Jaclyn Reagan, and Kyndal Skersick.

"I am looking forward to seeing this year's squad in action," commented Reinson. "Last year, with our four seniors, we had a pretty good idea of how our team would look. This year, we don't know what to expect.  We have some talented individuals, who have the potential to exceed our expectations and that is exciting."

Brown, who was selected to the 2012-13 Big South All-Freshman Team and named the VaSID All-State University Division Rookie of the Year, is the team's top returning scorer after averaging 12.2 points in 31 games played last season, including 28 starts. She also averaged 28.2 minutes and 4.0 rebounds, while shooting 43.8% (137-313) from the field, including 28.6% (6-21) from beyond the arc, and 71.9% (110-153) from the line. With 390 total points, she not only led all of the league's freshman in scoring, but notched the second most points by a freshman in the history of the Longwood program. Brown had seven, 20+ point games and three double-doubles in 2012-13, including a personal-best 29 points at High Point (1.24).

"The improvement of Daeisha Brown will be very important to our success," said Reinson. "She has worked hard this summer to diversify her game. We will count on her very heavily this season." 

Williams started three of 33 games played last year, averaging 24.1 minutes, 5.0 points and 1.5 rebounds, while shooting 37.6% (59-157) from the floor, 31.2% (29-93) from beyond the arc and 68.0% (17-25) from the line. She downed a personal-best, four three-pointers en route to a season-high 14 points, in addition to a season-best four rebounds at Gardner-Webb (12.9). Williams totaled four double-figure scoring games as a rookie.

Ali started 13 of 31 games played as a freshman in 2012-13. She averaged 19.2 minutes, 3.5 points and 3.6 rebounds, while shooting 40.2% (39-97) from the field, 20.0% (1-5) from three-point territory and 47.5% (28-59) from the line. She finished second on the team with 25 blocks, and notched season highs with 11 points and 12 rebounds for her first career double-double at Pittsburgh (11.26). Ali registered a pair of double-figure scoring games and a pair of double-figure rebounding games.

Headen started three of 24 games played, averaging 11.2 minutes, 2.0 points and 1.5 rebounds, while shooting 42.6% (20-47) from the field, including 45.5%?(5-11) from beyond the arc, and 80.0% (4-5) from the line. She scored a personal-best seven points on three occasions, most recently at Liberty (1.26).

Reagan appeared in 26 games as a rookie. She averaged 7.0 minutes 1.4 points and 0.9 rebounds, while shooting 27.7% (13-47) from the field, 23.7% (9-38) from three-point territory and 20.0% (1-5) from the line. Reagan knocked down a personal-best three, three-pointers, en route to a season-high nine points at Coastal Carolina (1.31).

Skersick appeared in 20 games, averaging 4.3 minutes, 0.6 points and 0.3 rebounds, while shooting 14% (4-29) from the floor, including 12% (3-25) from beyond the arc. She notched a season-high one three-pointer and three total points on three occasions, most recently vs. Liberty (3.10).

In addition, junior Rianna Frazer and redshirt-sophomore Jessica Parker return for the 2013-14 season, while redshirt-senior Heather Tobeck joins the squad for her final year of eligibility after missing 2012-13.

Frazer appeared in 12 games in 2012-13, averaging 4.0 minutes and 0.3 rebounds. She logged her only steal of the season at Charleston Southern (1.12), while recording one rebound on four occasions, most recently against Gardner-Webb (1.3).

Parker has not seen any collegiate playing time as of yet. She played four years of varsity basketball at Clayton High School in North Carolina, averaging 13 points per game as a senior.

Tobeck did not play last season and received a redshirt. She is the program's all-time leader with 122 career blocked shots. In 2011-12, she started five of 22 games played, averaging 16.8 minutes, 4.3 points and 3.3 rebounds. She shot 45.8% (38-83) from the field, including 50.0% (7-14) from three-point territory, and 75.0% (12-16) from the foul line. Tobeck notched a season-high 12 points at Eastern Kentucky (1.25), along with a season-high seven rebounds at Air Force (1.7).

Longwood welcomes four newcomers to this year's roster. Freshmen recruits Treasure Avery, a 5-7 guard, Emily Nylen, a 6-5 forward, and Brenna Robbins, a 5-10 guard, along with walk-on Shannon Mosby, a 5-3 guard, will look to add the Lancers production at both ends of the court this season.

"Our freshman class has the chance to be very good," explained Reinson. "We were looking to add skilled players, who had a high basketball IQ. I think our staff did a very good job of identifying and recruiting players who were a little bit under the radar. Emily, Brenna and Treasure are all talented, hard-working, personable young women, who are not only committed to being successful on the basketball court, but also excelling in the classroom.  I believe they will all provide significant contributions this season."

Avery, a four-year varsity starter, averaged 12.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 5.0 steals at Lincolnton High School in Lincolnton, N.C. The 5-7 guard was a four-time All-Conference honoree, as well as a three-time All-District selection and Team MVP. Avery, who was voted team captain twice, garnered North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Scholar-Athlete recognition all four years at Lincolnton.

Nylen averaged 6.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks as a senior at Rockford Christian High School in Rockford, Illinois. The 6-5 forward was a four-year varsity starter, who totaled 295 blocks in her high school career. A two-time All-Conference First Team selection, she was named to the area All-Star team following her senior campaign. Nylen was a four-year Honor Roll student and was named the 2013 Class Valedictorian, as well.

Robbins, who was a four-year varsity starter at Mercyherst Preparatory School in Erie Pennsylvania, averaged 10.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 blocked shots during her career. The 5-10 guard was team captain for her senior season, and was an All-Region selection as a junior and senior. Robbins was also a four-year Honor Roll student.

In 2013-14, the Lancers play a program-record 16 contests inside the friendly confines of Willett Hall, four of which will be doubleheaders with the Longwood men's basketball team. The Lancers will open the season on the road at Seton Hall of the Big East Conference on Friday, November 8 at 7 p.m. The squad then kicks off its home league schedule with back-to-back contests against Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. and Campbell on Monday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. The 2014 VisitMyrtleBeach.com Big South Women's Basketball Championship will take place March 4-9 at The HTC Center, Coastal Carolina's Student Recreation and Convocation Center in Conway, South Carolina. The tournament, which will be held in conjunction with the league's men's basketball championship, will feature all 11 Big South women's basketball member institutions.

"Every year, our goal is to win the Big South Championship and earn a berth into the NCAA Tournament," concluded Reinson. "Each year, however, our path to that goal may be different. This season, we have a very young roster with a lot to learn. I believe we have a lot of talented players on this team, but it remains to be seen how willing they are to do the work necessary to return to the championship game."

Reinson will be joined on the coaching staff by Wanisha Smith, in her fifth season at Longwood, as well as second-year assistant coach Adria Crawford and first-year assistant Sherrie Tucker.