Longwood University Athletics

Game 13: Longwood (4-8, 1-0 Big South) vs. Presbyterian (5-5, 0-0 Big South)
Date & Time	Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022 | 2 p.m.
Location	Clinton, S.C. (Templeton Physical Education Center)
Game Notes	Longwood | Presbyterian | Big South
Statistics	Longwood | Presbyterian | Big South
Live Stats	Presbyterian Live Stats
Video/TV	ESPN+
Social Media	@LongwoodLancers | @LongwoodWBB

The Opening Tip:

• Longwood ends its six-game losing streak with a huge victory over the Aggies in their first Big South game after joining the conference.
• Akila Smith earned her third double-double on the year cashing in 22 points and a team-high 12 rebounds against its first Big South opponent.
• Kennedy Calhoun has continued to make greater impacts game-by-game on the defensive end of the court, grabbing her fifth game of the season with four or more steals, and third game reaching double digits scoring from the point guard position.
• Kyla McMakin shook off a low scoring performance against American with a season-high scoring effort verse the Aggies cashing in 29 points.
• Tra'Dayja Smith managed the offense from the point matching her season-high assists in the win over North Carolina A&T.

By The Numbers: 

• After finishing off a tough non-conference schedule, the Lancers remain at the top in the Big South across numerous statistical categories.  The Lancers lead in blocks (61) and are ranked 25th nationally.
• Akila Smith has been one of the top shot blockers in the country this season. She ranks first in the Big South with 40, and moved up to the 5th spot nationally after adding seven blocked shots against the Aggies on Wednesday night.
• Tra'Dayja Smith is the leading passer in the Big South. In addition, Smith is ranked 25th in the country in free-throw percentage, second in the Big South, shooting .906 percent from the free throw line.
• Kyla McMakin and Akila Smith are ranked second and fourth in the Big South in final scoring following two massive performances against North Carolina A&T. This is the second straight season the duo remains in the top five. 
• Kennedy Calhoun has been a menace to opposing guards defensively, and has made a stance for herself going into conference play. Calhoun moved to the first place slot in the conference for steals with 31, averaging 2.6 steals per game in her freshman season.
• Calhoun's performance has paved the way for Longwood to rank second in the Big South with 9.3 steals per game.
• Akila Smith wrote her name in the Longwood record books again with her second career triple double, the third in team history, with a 20-point, 11-rebound, 10-block effort at Sam Houston on Nov. 30. She added another double-double on the year with 22 points and 11 rebounds against the Aggies.

Series History: 

• The Lancers and Blue Hose have traded off wins and losses since new coaches arrived for both teams.
• Coach Tillett and Coach Sharp joined their respective teams in the same season and have accumulated about the same record since taking over their programs.
• In the most recent matchup between the two teams, Presbyterian took home the win with a strong fourth quarter run that was able to outstand three Lancers scoring in double-digits.

Quoteables: 

"There were games in the non-conference where we let off the gas pedal, and everything we did then was all for right now in the Big South. We want to dominate and I think tonight you could tell that's what we wanted as a team tonight. Everything we have worked for so far has been for this moment, and the rest of the games to come." - Freshman Guard Kennedy Calhoun 

"Our Presbyterian games are always close battles. Their coach and myself came in around the same time, so we're both trying to do some building in the program, so we're looking forward to a tight match up." - Head Coach Rebecca Tillett