SW Virginia News

Shorthanded Lancers Claim Historic Victory Over UNC Asheville 75-65

An undermanned Longwood Lancers women's basketball team secured its second-consecutive home victory tonight, defeating UNC Asheville by a score of 75-65. Adriana Shipp-Davis set a new career-high of 26 points while Anne-Hamilton LeRoy added 21 to secure the victory for Longwood.
 
Longwood Statistical Leaders
 
Points: Adriana Shipp-Davis (26)
Rebounds: Adriana Shipp-Davis (8)
Assists: Adriana Shipp-Davis (5)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
Tonight's contest started a bit differently than most for Longwood (3-13, 2-3), as guard Adriana Shipp-Davis took the opening tip-off for the Lancers due to several injuries in the rotation. UNC Asheville (5-11, 1-4) started off the evening strong, conducting a 10-2 run through the first three minutes of gameplay. The Lancers responded with a run of their own, cutting the Bulldogs' lead to only two. However, three triples by UNC Asheville in the final four minutes of play secured them a 23-15 lead after the first.

After trailing through the first quarter, Longwood's offense picked up in the second. Shipp-Davis poured in 11 points in the frame, giving her 17 points through two quarters. Janay Turner and Anne-Hamilton LeRoy also provided offensive sparks, chipping in nine points combined in the second. While the Lancers offense was producing, UNC Asheville didn't fold, leading to a narrow 37-35 halftime lead for Longwood.

Fans inside Willett Hall witnessed history to open the second half, as two Anne-Hamilton LeRoy free throws put her over 1,000 points for her career at Longwood. The game would go back-and-forth throughout the third quarter, as the lead changed hands five times in the frame. Free throws from Asheville's McKinley Brooks-Sumpter put them ahead 50-49, and both sides were in store for a wild finish in the fourth quarter.

Similar to the second quarter, the Lancers came alive after trailing to start the frame. Longwood shot an absurd 72.7% from the field en route to 26 fourth quarter points. LeRoy and Shipp-Davis combined for 15 points in the quarter and a total of 47 for the game. Team defense and high-level offense for the Lancers kept the Bulldogs at bay, and Longwood held on to claim its second consecutive home victory.
 

WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"I'm really proud of how [Adriana Shipp-Davis and Anne-Hamilton LeRoy] executed and finished plays," said head coach Erika Lang-Montgomery on her two top scorers. "It really is a testament to how much time they put in the gym, staying after practice and making shots. It really showed tonight."

"We did a phenomenal job of staying together," said Lang-Montgomery. "We knew we were going to be shorthanded tonight, and we worked in practice to prepare ourselves for it. I thought our team executed and a lot of people stepped up to fill the void of the people that missed the game today."

"I think we really played our game, and it started on the defensive end," said Adriana Shipp-Davis. "We were able to get out in transition, but none of that is possible if [my teammates] don't give me the ball. Them finding me in gaps and playing to my strong suit helped tonight."

"Coming into the game, we knew we were going to be a little short on players, and we were really excited for that challenge," said Anne-Hamilton LeRoy on the team being undermanned. "We said before the game we may be outnumbered, but at the end of the day, it's five-on-five, so we were all ready to play together and win for the people that were out."
 

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
 
Today's game marked the 25th all-time Division-I matchup between the Lancers and the Bulldogs. The two teams will face one another again on February 25th in Asheville.
 
Longwood has won each of the past five meetings against UNC Asheville.
 
Adriana Shipp-Davis' 26 points mark a new career-high for the redshirt junior guard, her second time setting a career-high in the last week.
 
Anne-Hamilton LeRoy's 21-point outing was her second consecutive game scoring 20+ points and third on the season.
 
LeRoy's free throws at the 8:34 mark in the third quarter put her over 1,000 points for her career. 

Original source can be found here