In a season which currently sees the Longwood women’s basketball at a record of 1-16 (0-7 Big South), first-year Head Coach Rebecca Tillett is still experimenting to find the solidified lineup to bring the Lancers success.
The team has used a total of eight different starting lineups in their first 17 games, with the focus being starting off games on a better foot. The team has been outscored 349-232 in the first quarter of contests this season.
“We're fine with that until we can find a combination. Something that’s really unique this year, that was concerning was that we can’t get a really big separation between two groups in practice,” said Tillett. “Generally on your team, if you put your starters together they're going to have a little bit of rhythm and success together, and we haven’t been able to find that one group that can really separate from one another.”
In the preseason, Tillett said she wanted to institute a culture of toughness and unselfishness in the team. So far, the team isn’t currently meeting the standards in those areas, according to Tillett.
“For your culture to be tough and to be unselfish, those are big asks. I think we are making progress but we are not as far as where I would like to be right now,” said Tillett.
A few bright spots for the Lancers have come in the form of junior forward Dayna Rouse and freshman forward Akila Smith.
Rouse, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa. currently leads the team in scoring at just over 13 points-per-game coupled with a field goal percentage of 59 percent, which also leads the team and is second in the Big South Conference.
“I think (Rouse's) offensive consistency has been steady for us the entire season. We are really happy with any shot she takes and, in fact, I would like her to take a few more since she shoots such a high percentage,” said Tillett. “She is growing in her leadership and we are trying to help her find her voice because she has some really good ideas and I want her to share them with the team.”
Smith, standing at 5-foot-11-inches tall, is currently second on the team in blocks with 13 and was the most recent player to enter the starting lineup for the Lancers.
Tillett is very impressed with the progression Smith has shown along with her contributions in her short time of being a member of the squad.
“When Akila got here she had a lot of work to do and she knew that and she did it, in the classroom and on the court,” said Tillett. “She has put in more time than any other player on our team outside of practice hours by her choice. Because of that, she has worked her way into the lineup and she’s contributing to our team.”
Despite the early struggles of the season to date, senior guard Ciarah Bennett feels the team is better as a unit this season over years past.
“We are more communicative than before,” said Bennett. “We didn’t really talk to each other outside of basketball (in years past) but we do now. We care for each other on and off the court.”
Tillett said she is glad as she looks back at her previous head coaching experience at the high school level, as it would be tougher if she didn’t have the experience.
“I am learning every day and that’s who I am. I love to be inspired to learn and our team is doing that for me and I hope me and the staff are doing that for them,” said Tillett. “I think our team has a generally positive approach to how we respond.”
Looking forward to the rest of the season, Tillett is encouraged by the team's recent ability to battle back from deficits, an action the team struggled with in the beginning of the season.
“If someone takes a 13-point lead on us now, I’m not as concerned as I was earlier in the season because I think our women have it in them now to fight back, but I want them to fight back and win.” said Tillett.
The team will look to break it’s 14 game losing streak as it returns to Willett Hall on Jan. 29 to take on Campbell University, starting a three game home-stand.
Akila Smith stands at 5-foot-11-inches tall has been a force on the defensive end for the Lancers tallying 13 blocks.
Ciarah Bennett looks to bring energy and experience through her role as a senior.
