Coming off of a 3-27 record last season, it appeared that the only place the Longwood women’s basketball program could go was up. This season, that is just what they’ve done. With a current record of 10-15, they’ve already more than tripled their win total from last season, and the future looks bright with some of the young players already showing what they can do.
Head coach Rebecca Tillett said, “I think we already have met some of our goals, but I think the sentiment in the room is that there’s still more to do. We think our team is greater than what we’ve accomplished, and that’s why there’s still season left.” Tillett went into further detail about the goals that her team has met. “We had some goals regarding road games, we had some goals regarding non-conference play, we had some goals regarding the first half of the season. Those are goals we met. This team wants to write history and do something that hasn’t been done here in women’s basketball at Division 1.”
A big factor in the team’s success this season has been senior forward Dayna Rouse. Rouse has served as a role model on and off the court for her younger teammates. Rouse said, “I take this leadership role as respect from my teammates. The coaching staff emphasized this role for me last year and as soon as all of our new people stepped on campus, they explained to me how important it was to be a leader to all of them. It’s also just an opportunity to grow as an individual.”
Rouse has had a storied career here at Longwood. From being the first player in program history to being named either first or second-team All-Big South, to ranking among the top five in program history in career field goal percentage and free throw percentage. Rouse spoke on how this season has shaped her legacy.
“Anyone who has followed my career knows that this is the most successful team that I have been on while I’ve been at Longwood. Being able to win games and create a close family unit is something I’m proud of.” Rouse went on to say that she is looking forward to enjoying her last few games and that she has goals of making it far in the Big South tournament and even winning the championship.
Another player who has come up big for the women’s basketball team is freshman guard Anne-Hamilton Leroy. Leroy has made her presence known this season, scoring in double-figures fourteen times. Leroy said, “I came here to change the culture, but I knew I couldn’t do it alone. I’m just doing everything I can do to help my team win and be successful.”
Leroy credits a lot of her development to her coaches and teammates. She said, “They’re constantly holding me accountable. My biggest transition has been on the defensive side of the ball. I have really good teammates that are always telling me what I need to do to get better.”
Whether it’s the seasoned veteran or the rising star, there are many players that have helped to change the culture of the women’s basketball program at Longwood. The team currently sits at the eighth spot in the Big South Conference standings, which would put them in position to host a playoff game at Willett Hall. The team will return to Willett Hall after a weekend trip to Campbell, when they take on their final home game of the regular season against the Winthrop Eagles on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
The women's basketball team has shown vast improvement on the hardwood this season. However, they have bigger ideas in mind as the Big South Tournament closely approaches.
