Winthrop Women’s Basketball Hangs On To Defeat Longwood At Home
Rock Hill, SC – The Winthrop Women’s basketball team successfully defended their home court, earning a nerve-wracking 55-54 victory over Longwood at the Winthrop Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. This marks the second straight year that Winthrop has successfully swept their games against the Lancers.
Game Highlights
The Winthrop Eagles (11-13, 5-6 Big South) demonstrated impressive skills throughout the four quarters of the tightly contested game versus the Longwood Lancers (6-18, 3-8 Big South). Despite trailing 2-0 for a few seconds into the first quarter, Winthrop scored nine straight points. Jada Ryce was instrumental in the team’s early success, contributing five of Winthrop’s nine points with a layup on the fast break and a three-pointer shot.
In the second quarter, the Eagles extended their lead to 12 points due to astute field goals which ultimately culminated in a 22-12 lead at the intermission. Winthrop’s defense played a pivotal role in this frame, successfully limiting Longwood to three field goals.
Intense Second Half
However, the third quarter saw a revitalized Longwood whittle down the lead to only two points, seven minutes in. The teams exchanged the lead several times, but back-to-back scores by Nyah Stallings put Winthrop up five inside of the final minute. Longwood quickly rallied, closing with a 6-0 run leading to a 40-39 lead heading into the fourth quarter
The fourth quarter was emotionally charged, with Marissa Gasaway scoring a free throw, giving Winthrop a 41-40 lead. Despite the Lancers’ continuous attempts, Winthrop managed to maintain their advantage, ultimately securing the victory with a close 55-54 finish.
Individual and Team Accomplishments
Marissa Gasaway notched a double-double score, hitting 13 points and making 14 rebounds, marking her sixth double-double of the season. Meanwhile, Semeka Randall-Lay captured her 100th career coaching victory in this intense match. As for the team, Winthrop made a strong statement by increasing their all-time home wins to 350, demonstrating the Eagles’ formidable presence at their home court, the Winthrop Coliseum.
The team’s performance also earned them impressive stats. Both teams shot a modest 31% from the field, but Winthrop excelled in free throw shooting with 73% accuracy and shot 33% from the three-point range.
What’s Next?
On Wednesday, Feb. 14, Winthrop concludes a two-game home stand as they host Radford at 6 p.m. As the Eagles celebrate their recent victory, they remain focused on their upcoming games, looking forward to end the season with more victories and remarkable performances.
