FARMVILLE, Va. - An 18-3 third-quarter run powered Longwood women's basketball to a big lead, and Kyla McMakin, Kennedy Calhoun and Brooke Anya all made clutch plays in the final minutes to push through a fourth quarter UNC Asheville rally on Wednesday night to win 62-57. With this win Longwood (6-8, 3-0 Big South) extends its win streak in the conference to three straight while matching the program's best start in Big South play, set back in 2012-13.
 
The Lancers met one of their team goals with four players scoring in double digits, and it made all the difference in an almost identically matched battle between Longwood and UNC Asheville (6-8, 1-2 Big South). Kyla McMakin led the offensive push with 19 points, her third game in a row in double digits. Despite early foul trouble, McMakin was able to sink a crucial three-pointer in the last two minutes of the game to help Longwood maintain a late lead over the Bulldogs.
 
"We were really excited," said Longwood head coach Rebecca Tillett. "That's what we said after the game was over, that we were excited to able to do that, because we think that's so important and that we're dangerous at multiple positions. Again, we don't care who does it, we just want four women to do it because it makes us more dangerous."
 
"We're all offensively so skilled, and I think that's what helps us be a great team," said McMakin, who battled through foul trouble to score more than half her points in the second half. "Today was the best of moving the ball and everyone who was open hitting the shots that they needed to hit, important shots, making the right pass, moving the ball around, giving up good shots for great ones. I thought we did a good job of that."
 
Kennedy Calhoun not only had a huge impact defensively, coming up with a critical steal in the waning seconds that helped the Lancers push the lead to two possessions, but offensively in Wednesday evenings game. The standout freshman scored 11 points while also grabbing five steals.
 
"I'm really excited for Kenn and her consistent improvement and development," Tillett said. "We all thought this is what she would be capable of doing. And of course, our tougher non-conference schedule doesn't always highlight what a freshman can do. So for her to be able to come into conference play and be able to show in all three of our wins what she does for us. Opponents are making game plan changes because of her defense, which is really, really special as a freshman. I loved her big energy plays today that just infused confidence into her teammates."
 
Akila Smith also stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds, and three blocks. Point guard Tra'Dayja Smith rounded out scoring force for Longwood with 14 points, a team-high eight rebounds and five assists.
 
After an evenly matched first half, the Lancers and Bulldogs were tied at halftime, evenly matched across almost every statistic in the book. For UNC Asheville, Nadiria Evans kept the intensity high with the Bulldogs and led the charge to a late fourth quarter comeback. Evans, the conference's leading scorer, finished 10 points, four steals, and three assists, along with Faith Adams who had 12, and Abigail Wilson who cashed in 13. Kai Carter added a double double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
 
"It was competitive from the start," McMakin said. "We were competing with who could be louder on the side during warmups. So it was a really competitive game from the start, and I thought we did a good job handing it towards the end."
 
McMakin powered a third quarter surge that saw Longwood outscored UNC Asheville 21-9. The junior poured in nine of her 19 points in the quarter as Longwood built a 17-point lead after halftime.
 
Yet UNC Asheville battled back. The Bulldogs ripped off a 10-2 run and closed the gap late, but a three by McMakin, a steal and a free throw from Calhoun, and an offensive rebound from Brooke Anya with under :10 seconds left in the game sealed the win for the Lancers.
 
"I think everyone on the team has such a smart basketball IQ," McMakin said. "I think that's the love of the game. Everyone watches basketball outside of basketball. They come on their own time and love basketball for itself. That really helps with that IQ and knowing what to do. At the end, we had Kenn getting that great steal that was very much needed, and Brooke getting an offensive rebound. Those plays come from them loving the game so much and having so much passion for it."
 
Longwood's Saturday game against Winthrop has been postponed to Sunday, Jan. 23 at 3 p.m. To hear the most up to date information on scheduling, and everything Longwood basketball, check out the team's social media platforms @LongwoodWBB or the HorsePower Fans App.
 
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