Box Score

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Longwood University women's basketball team earned its first road win of the season with a 70-62 decision at Big South Conference opponent Gardner-Webb University (4-4) on Sunday evening. Senior Crystal Smith|Richmond led Longwood (2-6) with 16 points in the non-league victory. Two other Lancers scored in double digits, as freshman Raven Williams|Richmond posted a season-high 14 points and senior Chelsea Coward|Mechanicsville tallied 11 points. Senior Erin Neal|Durham, N.C.  pulled down a game- and career-high eight rebounds, as well. Longwood continues its eight-game road trip at Bucknell University on Saturday, December 15. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Gardner-Webb scored first and led by as many as three before Coward converted on a pair of free throws to give Longwood its first lead of the game at 9-8 with just under 17 minutes to play in the first half. The Runnin' Bulldogs retaliated, but Williams knocked down a deep three from the corner to spark an 11-2 run, giving the Lancers their largest margin of the half, up 20-13 with 11:20 remaining in the first.

GWU hit consecutive three-point jumpers to pull within one and the teams traded baskets until LU outscored the host, 6-1, to create a 33-27 buffer with 4:23 to go in the period. However, GWU answered with a 6-1 run of its own to knot the game at 34-34. Jasmine Dale hit a jumper from beyond the arc, putting Gardner-Webb ahead, as her squad took a slight 39-37 advantage into the break.

Coming out of halftime, Longwood used a 10-2 run to regain the lead at 47-41 with 15:28 left in the contest. GWU would pull within a basket on three occasions in the half, but Longwood would not relinquish its lead. The Bulldogs were down 61-58 with just 1:38 remaining in the game, but the Lancers outscored the opposition, 9-4, in the final minute to seal the 70-62 victory. 

Smith tied a season-high with seven made free throws en route to a team-high 16 points. Coward added seven boards to her 11 points, while freshman Daeisha Brown|Richmond added to the offensive effort with nine points. Williams was a perfect 4-for-4 on three-pointers in the first half for a new personal best. As a team, Longwood shot 31% (19-62) from the field, 33% (9-27) from three-point territory and 66% (23-35) from the foul line en route to a season-high with 70 total points.

Dale paced the Runnin' Bulldogs with 20 points, while Olivia Parker added 12 points and a team-high six rebounds. As a team, Gardner-Webb shot 48% (22-46) from the floor, including 64% (7-11) from beyond the arc, and 52% (11-21) from the line.

Sunday's game marked the eighth meeting between Longwood and Gardner-Webb in the sport of women's basketball. The Runnin' Bulldogs hold a 5-3 edge in the all-time series.