CLINTON, S.C. – A season-high 13 three-pointers, including nine in the opening half helped Presbyterian storm out to a 23-point first half lead, before holding off a second-half Longwood rally to earn a 65-55 win Tuesday night at the Templeton Center.

With the Blue Hose holding their largest lead of the night at 23 points with 3:10 remaining in the first half, the Lancers put together a 12-5 run to close the half to cut the Blue Hose lead to 16 at the half. Longwood used the momentum gained from the end of the half to cut into the Presbyterian advantage further, clawing to within seven points with four minutes left in the game.

"You can't play 20 minutes of basketball and expect to win conference games," said Longwood head coach Bill Reinson. "Tonight's game was lost in the opening half and, as hard as we battled after halftime, we just couldn't overcome it."

However, that's as close as the Lancers would get the rest of the way, as the Blue Hose hit three free throws down the stretch to hand the Blue Hose their third win in the last five games.

"In the second half, we were able to cut the lead a few times," Reinson said. "However, once we got close we made some mental errors that allowed them to extend it again."

Longwood's second-half comeback was sparked by a team-high 17 point, six rebound effort from Longwood freshman Dayna Rouse. A product of Pittsburgh, Pa., Rouse, who had 11 of her 17 points in the second half, finished 8-of-15 from the floor, scoring in double figures for the third in the last four games.

"Dayna was sensational in the second half," Reinson said. "She's still adapting to the college game and will become more consistent as she gains experience. We really need her to become a consistent scorer for us."

The Lancers (3-9; 0-1 Big South) fall to 0-1 in Big South play and see their two-game win streak come to a halt. Meanwhile, the Blue Hose (3-9; 1-0 Big South) snap a two-game losing streak and win their conference opener for the second straight season.

Presbyterian's Courtney Storey, Taylor Petty, Janie Miles and Kacie Hall combined for 46 of 67 points for the Blue Hose, while Miles, Petty and Petty accounted for eight of Presbyterian's 13 three-pointers, as the Blue Hose made 10-plus three-pointers for the fourth time on the season.

Petty (15) led the effort for Presbyterian, while Storey and Miles added 11 points. In addition, Storey added a game-high nine assists in the effort.

Coming off a five-block, six assist day in Longwood's win over Milligan, Khaila Hall continued to stuff the stat sheet with an effort that saw the Cleveland, N.C., native finish with seven points, three rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal in 33 minutes of playing time.

Longwood's three-headed attack at the point guard position – Hall, Micaela Ellis and Ciarah Bennett – combined for nine of Longwood's 10 assists. In addition, Ellis (3) and Hall (4), as both players finished with three-plus assists for the third straight game after coming into Tuesday's contest ranked among the top 10 in assists within the Big South.

Up next, Longwood opens its home schedule Saturday, Jan. 7 against UNC Asheville. That will mark the first of two straight home games for the Lancers and the first of four consecutive inside the Commonwealth of Virginia. Saturday's game against the reigning Big South regular season and tournament champion Bulldogs is set for a 2 p.m., tip inside Willett Hall.

#GoWood