HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Despite a pair of near double-double performances from Longwood senior Eboni Gilliam and freshman Dayna Rouse, Marshall used a game-opening 22-5 run en route to a 70-50 win over visiting Longwood Monday afternoon inside the Cam Henderson Center.

The Thundering Herd opened the game with a torrid 9-of-18 (.500) from the floor and 4-of-8 (.500) from beyond the arc to storm to open a 22-5 lead in the game's opening eight minutes. Marshall's McKenzie Akers paced the Thundering Herd during the run, scoring nine of her 10 points in the game.

After the opening period, the Lancers (1-8) settled down and trimmed the Marshall lead to a 13 points early in the second half. That run was sparked by near double-double performances from Rouse and Gilliam, who combined for 39 of Longwood's 50 points. Part of the comeback effort had to do with the work of the Lancers defensively, holding Marshall to 14-of-44 (.318) shooting over the final three quarters.

A product of Pittsburgh, Pa., Rouse finished with a game and season-high 23 points and eight rebounds. Longwood's second 20-point scorer this season, Rouse eclipsed her season-high of 14 points versus Norfolk State and came within three rebounds of matching her season-best. Rouse, who finished the game 9-of-14 from the floor, added an assist in 31 minutes.

Meanwhile, Gilliam finished one rebound shy of collecting her third double-double of the season, as she finished with 16-points and nine rebounds in the loss. One of three seniors on the roster, Gilliam has scored in double figures in four of Longwood's past six games. During that stretch, Gilliam has been Longwood's top scorer and rebounder, averaging 9.5 points per game to go along with 7.0 rebounds.

The performance from Rouse and Gilliam was negated by the Marshall (7-3) trio of Shayna Gore, who paced the Thundering Herd with 21 points, while the starting backcourt tandem of Akers and Kiana Evans finished with 10 and 12 points, respectively.

Marshall locked down on the defensive end of the floor, holding the Lancers to a season-low one three-point field goal and 1-of-21 shooting from beyond the arc. For the game, the Thundering Herd held the Lancers to just .291 shooting from the floor, despite allowing opponents to shoot .411 coming into Monday's contest.

Up next, Longwood will have eight days before returning to Willett Hall for a pair of games. That stretch will begin with a contest versus Delaware State Wednesday, Dec. 28 and will be followed by a New Year's Eve game Saturday, Dec. 31 against Milligan. The contest against the Hornets is set for a 7 p.m., opening tip.

#GoWood