Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – Sophomore Raven Williams/Richmond led three double-digit scorers with a game-high 20 points, as the Longwood University women's basketball team snapped a six-game skid with a 71-59 victory against Big South Conference opponent Charleston Southern University (8-15, 4-10) on Thursday evening at Willett Hall. Sophomore Daeisha Brown/Richmond notched her second double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while classmate Kyndal Skersick/Orlando, Fla. added 15 points, as well. As a team, the Lancers maintained control of the glass, pulling down a season-high 51 rebounds for a +14 margin in the outing. Longwood (7-16, 4-10) will take on visiting Big South opponent Presbyterian College on Saturday, February 8 at 2 p.m. in Farmville.

"I am very happy for the ladies," said head coach Bill Reinson. "They have been working hard, but hadn't been able to reap the rewards. There are a lot of talented players on this team, but we are very young. I told them earlier that they need to realize how good they can be. Hopefully, this win will boost their confidence."

Longwood jumped out to an early 8-2 advantage, thanks to a pair of threes from Williams and a layup from sophomore Khalilah Ali/Suffolk. The Lady Bucs responded with five-straight points to make it a one-point game, but the Lancers followed with a 9-0 run, including four points from Brown, to take their largest lead of the half at 17-7 with 13:53 remaining in the first. CSU battled back to within one possession before Williams hit her third three-pointer of the night at 11:13 to give her squad a 20-14 edge. Longwood led by six once more following a layup from Skersick, but Charleston Southern used a 9-4 spurt to cut the difference to just one at 26-25 with less than five minutes to play in the half. However, the Lancers outscored the visitors, 5-1, in the waning minutes to take a 31-26 lead into halftime.

CSU scored the first bucket after the break, but freshman Brenna Robbins/Erie, Pa. quickly responded for Longwood with a jumper from beyond the arc. The teams traded buckets over the next three minutes, as Longwood maintained a two-possession lead until Tatum Jarvis knocked down a three of her own to make the score 38-35 at 14:56. The Lady Bucs knotted the game at 42-42, but the Lancers answered with seven consecutive points to go ahead, 49-42, with less than 11 minutes left to play. CSU countered with three buckets from the floor to pull within one for the final time in the contest, as Longwood scored 14 unanswered points over the next five minutes to take a 63-48 advantage, their largest of the evening. Charleston Southern tried to rally in the final minutes, scoring 11 of the game's last 18 points, but Longwood's aggressive play was too much to overcome, as the home squad secured the 71-59 win.

Williams tied a career-high with four three-pointers and recorded six assists in the decision. Robbins added to the offensive effort with 10 rebounds and seven points, while Ali totaled eight boards and seven points. Longwood tallied a season-best 24 offensive rebounds. As a team, the Lancers shot 36% (22-62) from the floor, including 33% (5-15) from beyond the arc, and 79% (22-28) from the line in the outing.

Erin Bratcher paced the Lady Bucs with 18 points, while Jarvis added 14. As a whole, Charleston Southern shot 35% (22-63) from the field, 25% (7-28) from three-point territory and 57% (8-14) from the foul line.

Thursday's contest marked just the seventh meeting ever between Longwood and Charleston Southern in the sport of women's basketball. The Lancers now hold a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series.