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ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Charleston Southern guard Alyssa Mann poured in a game-high 23 points leading seventh-seeded Charleston Southern to a 72-50 victory over 10th-seeded Longwood in the first round of the Big South Tournament Thursday afternoon inside Kimmel Arena.

Longwood saw its two-game win streak it had coming into the tournament snapped in the Lancers' second ever game against the Buccaneers in the Big South Tournament. Meanwhile Charleston Southern (14-16) won its third game in its last five contests and advances to the second round to play reigning Big South Champion Liberty Friday afternoon.

Mann poured in 9-of-14 field goals, including a 3-of-5 performance from beyond the arc to lead the Buccaneers to a 7-of-21 performance from long range. Mann scored 14 of her 23 points in the second half, as the Buccaneers were able to build upon a 20-point halftime lead.

The Charleston Southern guard was one of two players to finish in double figure scoring for the Bucs, as her and Rachel Burns, who chipped in with 12 points, combined to score 35 of Charleston Southern's 72 points on the night.

Sophomore Micaela Ellis led Longwood with 11 points, marking her third game of the season in double figures. The Oak Park, Mich., product also contributed five rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals in a team-high 36 minutes.

Ellis, who received her award for being named to the Big South All-Academic Team prior to the game, was joined in double figures by Deborah Headen and Daeisha Brown, who each chipped in with 10 points. Headen also had a team-high eight rebounds in the final game of her career in the blue and white.

A product of Herndon, Va., Headen enjoyed a strong finish to her senior season, finishing with six double-figure games among her last eight. In that stretch, she finished the season with four straight with 10-plus points, including a career-high 24 points in Longwood's win over Coastal Carolina.

Charleston Southern limited the Lancers to just .241 (7-of-29) shooting in the opening half, including just 2-of-13 from beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, the Buccaneers scorched the net to the tune of .529 (18-of-34) in the opening stanza, with eight players finding the scoresheet led by nine from  Mann and seven from Burns.

Longwood finishes the season with an 8-22 overall record and a 5-15 mark in the Big South. The contest marked the final game in the careers of Khalilah Ali, Headen, Kyndal Skersick and Raven Williams. Longwood's first recruiting class to play their full careers in the Big South has been the heart and soul for the squad the past two seasons and advanced to the Big South Championship game in their freshmen year.

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