The Longwood women’s basketball team snapped their three-game losing streak in comprehensive fashion. The Lancers shot 41% from three and had every player score in a 96-69 win over Charleston Southern.
Longwood came out attacking early as they made the first four of their six shots, including three-of-four from long range. Defensively, they were executing at a high level, forcing five turnovers in the first quarter. In the second frame, the visitors got more comfortable, but still couldn’t stop Longwood’s scorching offense. Eleven players scored in the first half, which is far and away the highest for the Lancers this season. Freshman Jesstynie Scott and London Harvey were among the scorers as graduate student guard Malea Brown led the Lancers with 10 points. Longwood shot 46% from the field in the first half and led the Buccaneers 48-38.
Hot shooting continued to be the theme for the Lancers, but it was an unlikely source who led the team in three-pointers made at the end of the third quarter. Senior forward JaMya Robinson, who has made six threes all season before the three she put down against Charleston Southern. Brown caught fire from three in the fourth quarter as she dropped in three of them in the opening minutes of the frame. From there, the Lancers stretched out the lead to as much as 35 late in the fourth quarter as the game ended with them just four points short of a fourth game eclipsing 100 points.
Brown led all scorers with 25 points and five made triples. Robinson added 13 points and five rebounds. “[My teammates] are always telling me ‘don’t hesitate, shoot the ball’ and that’s what I did tonight,” said Brown. “We have a very unselfish basketball club, we have a very talented basketball club and they really enjoy seeing each other have success,” Lang-Montgomery said. “I’m really excited that JaMya [Robinson] had the night that she had… She’s somebody that stays after [practice] and puts in the work. She wants to be efficient for her team and be available for her team and she stepped up big time tonight,” Lang-Montgomery concluded. “It was just me being confident in myself and also my teammates being confident in me,” Robinson said regarding her career-high three triples made. “
Longwood also did something they normally don’t do early in games; they emptied their bench in the first half. The Lancers were able to count on 40 points from their bench players including nine from Amor Harris and seven from Scott. “We got solid contributions from our bench. Our veterans start it off and lead it for us…it’s great to see us get production from different people,” Lang-Montgomery said. “When I look and see that everybody scored and everybody got a rebound tonight…everybody had a hand in our success, and as a coach that is something that you are proud of.”
Longwood’s final home game sees their home record finish at a 12-3 clip, which is their most home wins in a season in Lang-Montgomery's reign as head coach. “It means a lot [to win at home]. This is our house and we want to protect it,” Brown said. Five seniors said goodbye to the Joan Perry Brock Center, including Brown and Robinson. “It’s been really good… and it has allowed me to grow,” Robinson said regarding her two years in Farmville. “It’s been a little bit challenging, but it really has shaped me to be a better person and I’m grateful that I chose to come to Longwood.”
The Lancers head to Clinton, South Carolina, to take on last-place Presbyterian on February 28. The game will begin at 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
