The Longwood women’s basketball team (6-14, 3-8) was able to ride Daeisha Brown’s 19 points to snap a five-game losing skid with a 67-60 win over the Winthrop Eagles (3-16, 2-8) Tuesday night at Willett Hall.
“Daeisha Brown, regardless of how many points she scores, every game she’s always good for a little six or eight point burst,” said Longwood women’s basketball head coach Bill Reinson. “She hit three or four straight buckets, made the difference in the game and gave us the lead.”
Of the 19 points, 14 came in the second half when the Lancers needed them most in what was a back and forth contest throughout.
“I love when they play man-to-man or full court man-to-man because it gives me an opportunity to use my speed to go right past them instead of when they play zone,” said Brown. “I’m not really a big fan of it because I’m not really a shooter.”
Erica Williams, the leading scorer in the Big South Conference, led all scorers with 20 and had two teammates in double figures as well, but it wasn’t enough in the end.
“What we wanted to do is, we wanted to trap her off of ball screens, which we didn’t do early, unfortunately, and then trap her in the post,” said Reinson. “When we did trap her in the post, she looked to pass out of it, so that was pretty effective for us. But what she does do is she splits the defense and attacks the basket.”
Reinson added, “She’s so big and strong that there’s not much you can do when she gets going. We didn’t do a good job at stepping in and taking charges.”
Coming into the game, Brown only needed 38 to reach 1,000 in her career. With her strong second half she now only sits 19 away from reaching the milestone.
“It feels great,” said Brown. “It feels like it took so long especially since I didn’t play last year because of my torn ACL.”
Brown added, “When I came back, I knew I was coming back with a purpose. It really motivates me every day.”
The Lancers earned their first season sweep over the Winthrop Eagles since joining the Big South. Longwood will take on the Presbyterian Blue Hose (11-8, 7-3) on Feb. 1 in Clinton, South Carolina. Presbyterian currently sits in a three-way tie for first in the Big South standings.
Redshirt junior guard Daeisha Brown scored 19 points against Winthrop on Tuesday, Jan. 26 in Willett Hall. She is now within striking distance of her 1000th career point.
