FARMVILLE, Va. – Four seasons of milestones, four seasons of new horizons, and on Saturday, the Longwood women's basketball program has a chance to extend that legacy even farther.
 
A win against Hampton would give the Longwood women's basketball team share of the regular season Big South championship title. That comes on the heels of a 17-11 record and 14-3 record in conference play that will go down as the team's top season in the Division I era so far.
 
Considering where the team began four years ago, that makes the explosive growth all the more impressive. Prior to Rebecca Tillett taking the reins of the program in 2018-19, the team had won at least 10 games a total of three times. The team has down so in each of the past three seasons, and in the past two, the Lancers have won at least 10 conference games.
 
For Milou Vennema, Akila Smith and Tra'Dayja Smith, the three players being honored on senior night, they've not only seen the growth firsthand, but they've been active participants in the process.
 
"I think these women have brought excellence to the program," said Tillett, who is finishing up her fourth season as the team's head coach. "These three women have given everything to our program. They've taken our program a step further every single year."
 
"My favorite memory is being here from the start with Coach Tillett," said Vennema, who was Tillett's first recruit prior to the 2018-19 season. "We were talking about it the other day with Akila, about where we started to where we are right now. The fact that I could be a part of this from the beginning, being Tillett's first recruit, that's an overall favorite memory."
 
Those humble beginnings and the resulting success, which has seen the team go from three wins in year one in 2018-19 to a 17-11 record this year that surpasses the best record in the team's Division I history. The 14-3 conference record marks a 12-win improvement as well, with the 14 conference wins a new high-water mark for the team in Big South play.
 
"The whole journey from where we started to where we are now will be something I'm proud to have been a part of," said Akila Smith, the top shot blocker in program history who holds the single game, single season and career blocks records.
 
That success is built on a culture built around family. These players don't view each other as teammates but rather sisters, and that bond surpasses anything else that tries to get in the way.
 
"That's my favorite part about being a part of Longwood women's basketball," said Smith. "The culture. How connected we are. How we're all family oriented and just how the coaches care so much for us outside of basketball. They know we're more than just an athlete, and having them to look out for us, and treat us like their own children in a way, it's been a really great thing to be a part of."
 
Even as the seniors prepare to graduate, they know that the story of this team is still unfolding.
 
"Always work hard and believe in yourself," Vennema said when asked about wisdom she would pass along to her teammates. "I've always had the thought of, 'you're not good enough,' at this or that, and you can start to doubt yourself. Keep fighting through all those thoughts. Never start to doubt yourself, and never take no as an answer from anyone. Always know you are good enough. Don't let anyone wreck your self-confidence. It's the most important thing you have."
 
"I would tell everyone to trust the process and enjoy every part of your journey," said Tra'Dayja Smith, the Texas native who moved into third all-time in career assists this season. "Do what you need to do now, and don't sit around waiting until your senior season to make things happen. Do it now, because y'all know you can."
 
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