FARMVILLE, VA— Despite Erica Williams' career-high 35-points, the Winthrop women's basketball team dropped an 83-78 Big South Conference decision on the road to Longwood on Saturday afternoon.

The loss drops Winthrop's record to 2-22 overall and puts the Eagles into a tie with Longwood for last place in the Big South standings with a 1-11 record.  Longwood is now 4-19 overall.

Williams put the Eagles on her back by connecting on 13 of 19 field goals, including a perfect three for three from beyond the arc, but a balanced offensive attack by Longwood and Kate Spradlin's 3-point shooting performance was too much for Winthrop to overcome.

Five Longwood players reached double figures.  Spradlin had 21 while Eboni Gilliam finished with 19, including 12 in the second half.  Micaela Ellis and Kemari Jones added 13 points each, and Ellis dished out a career-high 15 assists.

Winthrop had one of its best shooting performances of the season as it connected on 46 percent (29 for 63) from the floor, including six of 14 from behind the arc.  The Eagles also won the rebound battle 39-38.  The difference in the game proved to be Longwood's three-point shooting.  The Lancers were able to win the game by connecting on 11 of 30 field goals from behind the three-point line.  Spradlin accounted for six of the made triples.

Just after five straight points by Williams gave Winthrop a 64-61 lead with 7:46 remaining in the game, Longwood responded with a 14-0 run in just under three minutes to take control of the game and the Lancers held on to snap its 11-game Big South losing streak.
 
Spradlin did the biggest damage during the Longwood spurt as he connected on three straight 3-pointers in a span of only 64 seconds. Her last three ball put the Lancers up 75-64 with 4:53 remaining.
Winthrop scored five unanswered points on a jumper in the lane and a three pointer by Angela Coello Perez to cut the deficit to six points at 75-69 with 3:14 left in the game.  Perez finished with 12 points.

A layup by Naima Jackson cut the deficit to four at 75-71 with 2:32 left before Ellis made four straight free throws sandwiched around a 15-foot jumper by Williams to put her team back up 79-73.  Williams banked in a long 3-pointer with 53 seconds left to make it a three-point game at 79-76, but Longwood was able to hold on for the win.

Winthrop jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the opening 72 seconds on a layup by Nuba Jackson and a three-point play by her twin sister Naima.  The Eagles led 9-4 at the 6:54 mark following a pair of free throws by Noell Kellers and a follow shot by Uchechi Ufochukwu.

Longwood went on a 13-0 run to claim a 17-9 lead with 3:55 remaining in the first quarter.  Nine of those points came from 3-point land as Kate Spradlin connected on two treys and Kemari Jones nailed the other.  The Lancers connected on five 3-pointers in the first quarter.

Winthrop closed the gap to four points as Nuba Jackson and Williams connected on a pair of free throws to make it a 17-13 game with just over two minutes left.  Jones and Kellers traded 3-pointers before Spradlin hit her third three of the quarter to give the Lancers a 23-17 lead with 41 seconds remaining.  Cantrell made two free throws and just beat the buzzer with a 17-foot jumper to draw the Eagles to within 23-21 after one period.

Winthrop will return home next Tuesday night to face Campbell at 7 p.m.