The Opening Tipa
• Following an 11-day break for the holidays, Longwood dives back into Big South play with a trip to UNC Asheville.
• The Lancers are riding a three-game winning streak heading into the two-game, back-to-back series following a sweep of Radford to open conference play followed by a non-conference win over then-unbeaten Howard.
• The Lancers opened Big South play 2-0 for a second straight season and third time sine joining the Big South in the 2012-13 season.
• The Lancers swept the Big South weekly awards following a three-win week prior to the holidays.
Kyla McMakin was named the Big South Player of the Week after racking up 70 points in the three games, including a season-high 31 against Howard. Shipp was the Big South Freshman of the Week and the College Sports Madness Big South Mid-Major Player of the Week posted back-to-back career-highs in points against Radford while draining seven three's on the week.
Last Time Out
• Longwood wrapped up its third game in a five-day span with an 89-78 win over then-unbeaten Howard behind a 31-point, nine-rebound performance by
Kyla McMakin and
Akila Smith's near triple-double with 20-points, 16-rebounds and eight blocks.
• The Lancer offense scorched the nets on the way to a 34-point opening quarter, the second time this season Longwood has put up 30 or more in the first.
Anne-Hamilton LeRoy notched 13 of her 19 points in the first quarter, the third time the sophomore has had at least 10 in a quarter this season.
• Longwood's defense, keyed by five first-half blocks from Smith on her way to tying her career high with eight, held Howard to 33 percent shooting from the floor as the offense roared its way to a 51-38 lead. McMakin, Smith and LeRoy all had double digits in the scoring column in the first half.
• Howard closed the gap to six points late, but Longwood's proficiency from the free throw line sealed the game as the Lancers went 11-12 at the charity stripe in the closing minutes.
By The Numbers
• Longwood's offense leads the Big South at 76.9 points per game, one of two offenses averaging at least 70 points per game. The Lancers have scored at least 80 points in four straight games, going 3-1 in that stretch after surpassing 80+ only three times in 2019-20. All three wins were by double digits.
• The Lancers are the only team in the Big South with five players averaging in double digits in the scoring column.
Kyla McMakin leads the way with 19.0 ppg, good for second in the Big South, while
Akila Smith (14.7 ppg, sixth),
Anne-Hamilton LeRoy (12.6, 14th),
Tra'Dayja Smith (11.0 ppg, T-16th) and
Adriana Shipp (11.0, T-15th) all are in the top 16.
• Longwood's defense has been aggressive all season. The team leads the Big South in blocked shots (5.3 blocks per game), is second in turnovers forced (129) and third in steals per game (8.9). In two games against Radford, Longwood forced 34 turnovers, leading to 44 points off turnovers. Over the team's three-game winning streak, the Lancers have held their three opponents to a combined 36 percent shooting from the floor.
• On the season, Longwood has scored 118 points off turnovers, which translates to 22 percent of the team's points. Against ETSU, Longwood forced 32 turnovers, the most in a single game in the team's three seasons under head coach
Rebecca Tillett.
• Three players are tied for third in the Big South in steals, with
Tra'Dayja Smith,
Kyla McMakin and
Akila Smith all averaging 2.0 steals per game.
• A focused effort on tracking down offensive rebounds has helped Longwood offset a cold start from the floor. Longwood has racked up 115 second-chance points across seven games while snaring 110 offensive boards, tops in the Big South.
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Akila Smith has led the charge by posting a team-best 31 offensive rebounds, best in the Big South (18th in the nation at 4.4 per game).
Mallory Odell and
Kyla McMakin have added 13 offensive boards. Seven players have grabbed at least six offensive rebounds.
• Smith is one of the top rebounders and shot-blockers in the nation, much less the Big South. She ranks third in NCAA Division I with 3.6 blocks per game (best in the Big South) while ranking 12th in rebounds per game nationally (11.3, also best in the Big South). She is one of two players in the Big South averaging a double-double, with 14.7 points per game to go with 11.3 rebounds per game. She has five double-doubles this season after posting two in her first two seasons combined.
• Longwood has been lights out from the free throw line this season. The team's .808 percentage from the charity stripe ranks second in the Big South. Three Lancers sit in the top four of the Big South leaderboard in free-throw percentage in
Anne-Hamilton LeRoy (.917),
Kyla McMakin (.889), and
Tra'Dayja Smith (.889).
Series History
• The Bulldogs and the Lancers square off for the 21st time in program history
• Longwood has won their last two against UNC Asheville, sweeping the season series last season
• Their most recent matchup came on Feb. 4, 2020, when Longwood overcame a 16-point deficit to down the Bulldogs, 54-51.
Dayna Rouse notched her 1,000th point in the game.
#GoWood
