FARMVILLE, Va.- A historic triple-double performance for Tra'Dayja Smith led Longwood to an 84-64 victory over Charleston Southern Thursday in Willett Hall, extending a start to conference play that matches the Lancers' best since joining the Big South eight years ago. 

A junior point guard who came to Longwood (7-6, 3-1 Big South) as part of second-year head coach Rebecca Tillett's most recent recruiting class, Smith finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists for the first triple-double performance in Longwood's Division I era.

"I just felt like our team had a statement to make," Smith said. "When we played against Campbell, I feel we didn't perform offensively or defensively, so tonight was a statement. My team knocked down shots, and they found me when I was open, and I was able to knock down my shots."

Smith assisted on Longwood's first five baskets as the Lancers took an early 12-7 lead over the Buccaneers (2-11, 0-3 Big South). She went to finish Longwood's 30-point first quarter with six assists, while fellow newcomer Anne-Hamilton LeRoy splashed three long three-pointers to rack up 11 of her career-best 21 points in the opening frame.

The win is Longwood's fifth in the past six games and has Tillett's second edition of the Lancers on par with the 2012-13 Longwood team that opened conference play 3-1 and later advanced to the Big South Championship game. 

"I think this whole team wants to make history, and Tra'Dayja Smith made individual history for us tonight," said Tillett, who has Longwood off to a 5-2 home start this season. "Her ability to organize the team on both sides of the floor and to show her toughness on the court with her teammates is special. She can put people in a spot to be successful; if you finish with 10 assists, then you are putting people where they need to be."

The Big South's top scoring offense, Longwood reached the 80-point plateau for a third time this season and did so behind the game-high 21 points from LeRoy, 14 from fellow freshman Kyla McMakin and Smith's 12. The Lancers hit 10 three-pointers, their second most this season, and won the rebounding battle 44-35 thanks to double-digit rebounding efforts from Tra'Dayja Smith and sophomore wing Akila Smith. 

With a commanding 30-16 lead over Charleston Southern (2-11, 0-3 Big South) entering the second quarter, Smith continued to dominate the flow of the game in the second quarter, adding four rebounds and two assists to her already impressive start. Longwood's defense held the Buccaneers to nine points in the second quarter and entered the locker room with a commanding 45-25 lead. 

Longwood led by double digits for the final 31:40 of the game.

"Coach Tillett emphasizes on all five women on the court rebounding, and I take pride in going to the rim to get every board that I can," added Smith. "People do not expect me to be down in the paint so I can get a few a sneaky rebounds as well."

With just under five minutes to play, Smith was three points shy of history for the Lancers. She hit that mark in one shot, catching a pass from LeRoy and sinking a deep three-pointer for her 10th point of hte evening. She became only the NCAA's 12th player to record a triple-double this season.

On the opposite end of the floor, the Lancers' defense held the Buccaneers to .377 (23-of-61) shooting from the floor and a .261 (6-of-23) clip from behind the arc. Longwood forced 17 turnovers and converted those into 22 points, thanks in large part to a another dominant defensive effort from Akila Smith who finished with four blocks and five steals in addition to her 10 boards and seven points.

Now the Lancers will leave the comfort of Willett Hall and travel to Spartanburg, S.C., to finish the week of Big South play against the Spartans of USC Upstate. Longwood is hoping to end the week with their fourth victory in conference play. Tipoff against the Spartans on Saturday, January 11 is scheduled for 2 p.m. 

"I think the big thing this season is our staff, support staff, and our women are changing the culture," Tillett finished. "Our women have decided to be great, and they are doing that. I am going to challenge them to keep making that decision to be great every day in practice."

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