Box Score

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Sophomore Deborah Headen/Herndon hit a jumper with just seconds to play in regulation to knot the score at 64-64 before the Longwood University women's basketball team fell, 74-73, in an overtime thriller at Big South Conference opponent Gardner-Webb University (14-10, 9-6) on Thursday evening. Jasmine Dale, who led three double-digit scorers for the Runnin' Bulldogs with 18 points, drained a three in the final minute of the overtime period to help propel the home squad to victory. Sophomores Daeisha Brown/Richmond and Raven Williams/Richmond paced the Lancers' offensive effort with 15 points apiece, while freshman Treasure Avery/Lincolnton, N.C. led the team on the glass with 10 rebounds. Longwood (7-18, 4-12) returns to action for its final road game of the regular season at UNC Asheville on Saturday, February 15 at 2 p.m.

"This was one of our best efforts of the year," said head coach Bill Reinson. "We received contributions from everyone. Gardner-Webb is an excellent team who played very well at home and we stayed right with them. We had two shots to win the game, but they didn't fall. You have to applaud the ladies' effort. We need to carry this over to Saturday."

The Runnin' Bulldogs jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the early minutes of the contest, while freshman Brenna Robbins/Erie, Pa. logged the Lancers' first bucket of the day. Brown hit a pull-up jumper from the paint, but GWU followed with three-straight points to take a double-digit edge at 14-4 with 14:05 remaining in the first half. The teams traded baskets until Robbins hit another layup and Headen drained a deep three to cut the difference in half, making the scoring 19-14 at 11:14. Longwood continued to battle back, as the Lancers used a 7-3 spurt that was sparked by a three from Williams to pull within one possession at 23-21 with 7:24 to play in the half. The Runnin' Bulldogs maintained at least a two-point margin over the next five minutes until redshirt-senior Heather Tobeck/La Porte, Texas drained a jumper from beyond the arc to give Longwood its first lead at 31-30 with just over two minutes to go. The Lancers were unable to come closer, however, as the GWU slightly outscored the visitors, 5-2, in the waning minutes to take a 35-33 advantage into the break.

Longwood hit the first basket of the second half thanks to a jumper from Williams, knotting the score at 35-35. The Lancers would not pull in front, but stayed within one possession, causing three more stalemates over the next seven minutes, the last of which came at 47-47 with 11:36 still to go in the contest. The teams continued their back-and-forth battle with GWU able to hold onto the slight upper hand until Longwood tallied six-straight points, including field goals from Brown and Williams, to give the visitors a 56-52 edge with just over five minutes to play. Gardner-Webb reclaimed the lead, but the Lancers used four points from Williams to pull ahead again at 62-60 with 1:30 left in regulation. The Runnin' Bulldogs responded, but could not seal the victory, as Headen knotted the score at 64-64 to send the game to overtime.

The Lancers played from behind during the five-minute extra period, as Dale drained her fourth three-pointer of the evening to give GWU a 73-70 margin with just 34 seconds to play. Brown had a chance to tie the game from the foul line with two seconds on the clock, but after hitting her first attempt, she missed on the second. The team picked up an offensive rebound on the play and Brown threw up another chance at the buzzer that rolled off the rim, as GWU held on for the 74-73 decision.

Williams logged seven assists in addition to her team-best 15 points. Headen added to Longwood's offensive effort with 11 points and six rebounds. As a team, the Lancers shot 39% (26-67) from the floor, including 14% (3-22) from beyond the arc, and 72% (18-25) from the line in the outing.

Jessica Heilig and Catrina Green rounded out the double-digit scorers for the Runnin' Bulldogs with 15 and 12 points, respectively. As a whole, Gardner-Webb shot 34% (20-59) from the field, 43% (6-14) from three-point territory and 70% (28-40) from the foul line.

Thursday's contest marked the 11th meeting ever between Longwood and Gardner-Webb in the sport of women's basketball. The Runnin' Bulldogs now hold a 6-5 advantage in the all-time series.