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FARMVILLE, Va. – A 13-4 run in the opening 9:19 of the second half helped reigning Big South Champion Liberty overcome a 10-point first half deficit and escape with a 72-67 victory over Longwood Sunday afternoon inside Willett Hall.

The win gives the Lady Flames (10-8, 7-2 BSC) their seventh victory in their last eight games to keep pace with Presbyterian, UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb for first place in the Big South standings. Meanwhile, Longwood (5-14, 2-8 BSC) drops its fifth straight game which marks the longest losing of the season.

"We played with great energy today," said Longwood head coach Bill Reinson. "We shot the ball extremely well in the first half. In the third quarter, we missed a few shots and our defensive energy suffered."

Pushed back 24 hours from its original start time due to winter storm Jonas, the contest against the Flames and Lancers marked the second straight season it has been decided by five points or less in Farmville.

Liberty forward Katelyn Adams matched her season-high with 11 points to lead Liberty in the scoring column, while she grabbed 12 rebounds to post her fifth double-double of the campaign and her second straight. Adams was one of three scorers in double figures for Liberty, as Catherine Kearney poured in a game-high 20 points on an efficient 8-of-8 shooting from the floor, while Mickayla Saunders  added 15 points and two assists.

Liberty's run to open the third quarter was sparked by the combination of Kearney and Adams, who combined for 11 of Liberty's 13 points to open the second half. The duo combined to shoot 4-for-4 from the field and added 3-of-4 free throws during the stretch.

Senior Raven Williams tallied a season-high 14 points in her second game back in the Longwood lineup, while Autumn Childress and Deborah Headen each added 10 points apiece. Longwood had 10 of 12 players who competed in the game finish with at least four points.

A product of Herndon, Va., Headen has scored in double figures in nine of the last 12 games going back to Longwood's contest against N.C. Wesleyan on Dec. 9. Over the stretch, Headen has averaged 10.1 points per contest.

Longwood used hot shooting from beyond the arc to take as much as a 10-point lead in the first half and take a 32-30 advantage into the intermission. Six different Lancers combined to make seven three-point field goals in the opening half and shot .412 (7-of-17), which marked a season-best in one half of play.

Longwood enjoyed a 14-2 run over the final two minutes of the first quarter and the opening 1:53 of the second period, highlighted by a three-point field goal from Raven Williams three steps inside half court at the end of the first quarter. In the stretch, Longwood went 4-for-4 from beyond the arc.

With the Flames holding a 15-point advantage midway through the fourth quarter, the Lancers made a comeback and closed the margin to the final five points after Williams and Headen scored 11 points in the final minute of play.

"Overall, it was a good effort," Reinson said. "Now, we have to prepare for Winthrop."

Longwood returns to Willett Hall Tuesday, Jan. 26, as the Lancers go for the season sweep over Winthrop. The opening tip is set for 7 p.m.

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