BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Longwood Lancers women's basketball team fell on the road to the top-ranked Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs by a score of 83-71. Although the Lancers led the Runnin' Bulldogs after the first quarter, Gardner-Webb ultimately came away with the home victory.
 
Longwood Statistical Leaders
 
Points: Adriana Shipp-Davis, Anne-Hamilton LeRoy (18)
Rebounds: Anne-Hamilton LeRoy (5)
Assists: Bailey Williams (4)
 

HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Longwood (3-15, 2-5) got on the board first on an Adriana Shipp-Davis up and under, but Gardner-Webb (15-4, 7-0) responded swiftly. The two teams traded buckets to open the frame, with neither team generating more than a three-point lead throughout the entirety of the quarter. The Lancers turned over the Runnin' Bulldogs ten times in the quarter, resulting in ten points from those takeaways. The most pivotal turnover of the first came in the final minute as a Chardonnay Hartley steal resulted in an Anne-Hamilton LeRoy three-point play, and the Lancers held a 20-17 lead though one quarter of play.

The Runnin' Bulldogs came into the evening as the number one team in the Big South conference, and they showed why to begin the second quarter. Gardner-Webb opened the frame on a 13-0 run before Shipp-Davis scored first for the Lancers in the second. Longwood then got back to what worked early, generating turnovers and drawing penalties to cut the Runnin' Bulldog lead to five. Although Gardner-Webb outscored Longwood overall in the quarter, the Lancers stayed composed and cut the Runnin' Bulldogs' advantage to eight heading into the locker room.

Gardner-Webb came out hot to begin the second half, connecting on three triples within the opening minutes of the third. Janay Turner kept the Lancers close, responding with six points of her own during that same stretch. Although the Runnin' Bulldogs continued to step on the gas pedal, Longwood kept themselves afloat thanks to triples by -Shipp-Davis and Bailey Williams. Despite the Runnin' Bulldogs putting up 29 in the frame, the Lancers scored a respectable 22 themselves. While Longwood stayed competitive, Gardner-Webb's lead would be ultimately too much to overcome in the fourth quarter, and the Runnin' Bulldogs picked up their seventh consecutive Big South victory.
 

WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"Each game gives us more experience, and I think we're getting better at conversions," said head coach Erika Lang-Montgomery on Longwood's 24 forced turnovers. "We're being really active to get those turnovers and now we're able to use that and go score the basketball."

"I feel like this game will give our team some confidence," said Lang-Montgomery. "I really loved how we competed. Obviously, the end result isn't what we wanted, but I can definitely see the progress and I want us to continue that same effort and intensity every time we step on the court."

"Willett is a special place, and I'm excited that we get to play in the comforts of home again," said Lang-Montgomery ahead of Longwood's Alumni Night on Saturday. "We'll have our alumni back on campus to tell some stories and reminisce on the +-good times they had here. Hopefully when they come, they'll see a team that is hungry and fired up to play for them."
 

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
 
Tonight's game marked the 26^th all-time Division-I matchup between the Lancers and the Runnin' Bulldogs. The two teams will face one another again on February 22^nd in Farmville.
 
Adriana Shipp-Davis and Anne-Hamilton LeRoy led the way for the Lancers, each scoring 18 points.
 
Janay Turner scored 14 points on a four for seven mark from the field, her second consecutive double-digit scoring output.
 
The Lancers forced 24 turnovers, scoring 23 points off of them.
 
Longwood shot 44.4% from three, the highest the team has recorded this season.
 
Longwood and Gardner-Webb traded the lead seven times during the game.
 
 
UP NEXT:
 
The Lancers return to Farmville to host Alumni Weekend as they take on Presbyterian on Saturday, January 21^st. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at Willett Hall.

#GoWood