ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Malea Brown scored 21 points, including 16 in the first half, and the Longwood women's basketball team escaped UNC Asheville and Kimmel Arena with a 67-58 win in Big South action on Saturday.
The Bulldogs (6-11, 1-3 Big South) put a scare into Longwood, tying the game at 58-58 with 3:53 remaining but Asheville did not score again while Longwood went 7-for-10 from the free-throw line down the stretch to secure its sixth consecutive victory and an eighth win in the last nine games.
Brown shot 7-for-15 from the field and made three 3-pointers in her fifth career 20-point effort, while Frances Ulysse added 11 points and four rebounds and Otaifo Esenabhalu tallied 10 points and 10 boards for her fourth consecutive double-double.
"I loved our fight and competitiveness today," Longwood head coach Erika Lang-Montgomery said. "Asheville challenged us in every area. They were gritty on the boards. We've got to do a better job there, but overall I am happy with the win.
"Our defense showed up for us today, forcing turnovers and getting steals to turn into offense. Malea was big for us in the first half really the whole game. She was on the floor for almost 40 minutes and we needed every minute that she gave us."
UNC Asheville's Nia Green registered a game-high 22 points and 12 rebounds to keep her team in the game. The Bulldogs battled back from a 12-point deficit in the second quarter, but never led after the first frame.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Green scored five straight points for Asheville to creep to within 58-57 before Kristen McMillan hit one of two foul shots for the tie.
Longwood (12-4, 3-0) caused 26 Asheville turnovers, converting them in 19 points. The Lancers also got 11 in transition and 19 from their bench in the win.
The Bulldogs out rebounded Longwood, 43-38, and scored 40 points in the paint on the day, but the Lancers led 17-10 after the first quarter, 35-32 at halftime and 50-45 after three periods.
Longwood returns home Wednesday to host Winthrop at 7 p.m., at the Joan Perry Brock Center. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
