ROCK HILL, S.C. – After a week break for the Lancers they owned Winthrop Coliseum on Saturday with a win over the Eagles 78-56.

"I think this break came at the right time for us," said Head Coach Rebecca Tillett. "At this time of year people are a little bit banged up and it gives them much needed rest. I think our women responded to a lot of challenges given from us, specifically on how we respond when things aren't going our way, and I thought in the second half today they really responded well to things we had to adjust."
 
Longwood (13-11, 10-3 Big South) opened the game with 11-0 run grabbing a total 18 points after the first ten minutes. In the following quarter it was déjà vu, with the Lancers going on a 10-1 run out of the gate, following by another 15-0 run out of halftime that ended with 2:57 on the clock in the third.
 
The team camaraderie continued over to the defensive side with the Lancers slashing a previous season-best in team steals. Previously set at 13 back at the beginning of December against Drake, the record was broken Saturday when the Lancers grabbed 17 total.

"I'm excited about this for our women, and I think it starts with Kenn's ability to give that pressure and just how she's able to dictate opponent's guards," said Coach Tillett. "The thing we challenge our women on is to 'come with her.' Go pressure with Kenn and create that disruption."
 
Kyla McMakin finished the game with 26 points, the game high Saturday afternoon. The junior guard also added six rebounds and two steals, while extending her double-digit scoring streak to 13. McMakin was followed by Kennedy Calhoun who finished with 18 a new season, and career best, for the freshman point guard. Calhoun grabbed two quick steals and six points in the first quarter finishing with four steals and three assists going 6-11 from the field.
 
Akila Smith shined in the paint against the Eagles continuing her streak of double-digit scoring. Despite fouling out early in the third quarter, Smith grabbed 14 points, eight rebounds, and five steals before leaving the game early.

"Our leaders did great today," said Coach Tillett. "We're really asking them to elevate their leadership and I think DayDay, Akila, and Kyla are implementing new things during games and practices, and now you're starting to see those things take effect."
 
Winthrop (4-10, 2-10 Big South) was trying to defend its home court and had trouble from the charity stripe going 18-32 (.563 percent) from the line, and going 17-54 (.315 percent) from the field. Myra Strickland finished the game with 13, while Caroline De Klauman followed up right behind with a double-double grabbing 12 points and 13 rebounds. J'Mani Ingram had a run in the second half finishing the game with 10, but the run in the fourth by the Eagles wasn't enough to catch Longwood.   

"I think every coach, and team, at this point of the year is just trying to build momentum," said Coach Tillett on looking forward to the last five games of the season. "Teams can definitely get tired and the ones who are playing in March are the ones that don't get tired, and keep getting better. So were really focused on how we can get better and I think we did that today. It was important to do that, too, because who we have next is North Carolina A&T with their full roster. Its going to be a great rivalry game in our league moving forward."
 
With the win today Longwood advances to 10-3 in the conference. They switch gears to prepare for a three game week beginning with North Carolina A&T on Wednesday in Willett Hall at 7 p.m.
 
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