Longwood University Athletics

Game 14: Longwood (5-8, 2-0 Big South) vs. UNC Asheville (6-7, 1-1 Big South)
Date & Time	Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 | 7 p.m.
Location	Farmville, Va. (Willett Hall)
Game Notes	Longwood | UNC Asheville | Big South
Statistics	Longwood | UNC Asheville | Big South
Live Stats	Longwood Live Stats
Video/TV	ESPN+
Social Media	@LongwoodLancers | @LongwoodWBB

The Opening Tip:

• The Lancers enter the game 2-0 in the conference, the third straight season in a row they have started off with two wins in conference play, while the Bulldogs enter with a record of 1-1.
• Uncer Coach Rebecca Tillett, the Lancers are 4-5 against the Bulldogs looking to even the score on Wednesday night.
• Longwood is coming off a hot week for both Kyla McMakin and Akila Smith. Smith took home the Player of the Week recognition in the Big South for the first time this season.
• McMakin updated her season-high points against the North Carolina A&T with 29 total. Smith also added a new season-high of points scored against the Presbyterian with 25 - paired with 14 rebounds. 
• For the first time all year, eight Lancers were able to contribute to the score in Saturday's win over the Blue Hose - three scoring 16 or more.

 By The Numbers: 

• Akila Smith has been one of the top shot blockers in the country throughout this season. She ranks first in the Big South with 41, and is ranked seventh nationally after a week averaging a double-double grabbing 20 plus points for two games straight. 
• Tra'Dayja Smith is the leading passer in the Big South for the second year in a row, with 68 assists on the year.
• Kyla McMakin and Akila Smith are ranked amongst the top  scorers in the Big South, and backed it up with two double-digit scoring performances against North Carolina A&T, and the Blue Hose of Presbyterian. This is the second straight season the duo remains in the top five. 
• Kennedy Calhoun has been a menace to opposing guards defensively, and has made a stance for herself going into conference play. Calhoun moved to the first place slot in the conference for steals with 37, averaging 2.85 steals per game in her freshman season.
• Calhoun's performance has paved the way for Longwood to rank second in the Big South with 9.5 steals per game.
• Akila Smith wrote her name in the Longwood record books again with her second career triple double, the third in team history, with a 20-point, 11-rebound, 10-block effort at Sam Houston on Nov. 30. Following the opening week in conference play, Smith averaged a double-double against opponents, making it five total for her on the year - tied for most in the Big South.

 Series History:

• In the last meeting between the Bulldogs and Lancers, the Lancers were able to charge through to the second ever Big South semi-final appearance in program history - first under head Coach Rebecca Tillett.
• In the same game, the Lancers had four double-digit scorers, plus, Kyla McMakin hit her 1,000th career point in a Longwood uniform.
• Though historically the Bulldogs have had the upper edge on the Lancers, with a win on Wednesday night, the Lancers can even the score since the takeover of Coach Tillett.

Quoteables: 

"Moving forward our defense has to stay disciplined and focused, so we aren't letting teams get easy rebounds and layups. We just need to keep playing the hard defense we know how to play, and scoring wise we have to keep producing. The Big South is full of very competitive teams, so every game we are going into is going to be a battle. We just need to remember each game that there is no guarantee." - Junior Guard Kyla McMakin 

"It's really great we had so many people contributing offensively, but we're still committed as a team to getting that fourth in double-digits. Our defense is continuing to improve every game, and it may not reflect yet in the final score, but it is reflecting in how we are able to take away certain options." - Head Coach Rebecca Tillett

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