Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – Sophomore Daeisha Brown/Richmond notched a game-high 19 points to lead the Longwood University women's basketball team to a 59-57 comeback victory against Big South Conference opponent Gardner-Webb University (9-7, 4-3) on Saturday afternoon in Willett Hall. After trailing 39-26 at the break, Longwood outscored the Runnin' Bulldogs, 33-18, in the second half to seal the come-from-behind win. Three Lancers tallied eight points in the decision to add to the offensive effort, including freshman Brenna Robbins/Erie, Pa., who paced the squad on the boards with seven rebounds. Longwood (6-10, 3-4) will hit the road for a pair of Big South games next week beginning at in-state rival Radford University on Thursday, Jan. 16. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.

"If we could focus and play hard for 40 minutes, we would be tough to beat," said head coach Bill Reinson. "Today was an example where our second-half effort carried us. We showed a lot of resolve after falling behind. There were a lot of contributors today, but the effort we got from Deborah Headen and Brenna Robbins was significant. They are both playing very well right now."

The Runnin' Bulldogs scored back-to-back layups to open the game before Brown snatched the ball away from a GWU guard and laid in a bucket on the fast break. The Lancers tied the score for the first of six times in the contest at 7-7 following a three-point jumper from Robbins and a field goal from classmate Treasure Avery/Lincolnton, N.C. with 15:15 remaining in the half. Gardner-Webb was quick to regain the upper hand, using a 10-2 spurt to pull ahead 17-9 with just over 13 minutes to play in the period. Longwood retaliated with 10 unanswered points in the next four minutes, though, taking its first advantage of the day at 19-17 after a bucket from the paint by Brown. The teams traded baskets, facing a stalemate on the scoreboard on three more occasions in the half before GWU pulled away with a 16-3 run, giving the visitors a 39-26 edge at the break.

Coming out of halftime, redshirt-senior Heather Tobeck/La Porte, Texas sparked a 10-1 Lancer run to make it just a two-possession game with over 15 minutes to play. Longwood was unable to cut the deficit further in the next five minutes, however, as Gardner-Webb was aided by seven points from Catrina Green to recuperate a 50-41 lead with 10:12 left in the outing. The momentum shifted back to the home squad thanks to six-straight points from Brown, who ignited a 15-5 run to give Longwood a 56-55 lead at 4:29. The Runnin' Bulldogs led once more in the contest at 57-56, but sophomore Raven Williams/Richmond converted on a free throw to erase the difference and followed with the game-winning, fast-break layup to secure the 59-57 decision for Longwood.

In addition to Robbins, Tobeck and sophomore Khalilah Ali/Suffolk also registered eight points in the contest. Avery added seven points of her own, as well. As a team, the Lancers shot 33% (23-69) from the floor, including 17% (4-23) from beyond the arc, and 60% (9-15) from the line in the outing.

Green paced the Runnin' Bulldogs with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds. Jasmine Dale notched 10 points to add to the GWU effort. As a whole, Gardner-Webb shot 33% (17-52) from the field, 33% (3-9) from three-point territory and 71% (20-28) from the foul line.

Saturday's contest marked the 10th meeting ever between Longwood and Gardner-Webb in the sport of women's basketball. The all-time series is now tied 5-5.