Preview: Longwood Looks to Continue Surge at Gardner-Webb

SHELBY, N.C. (Interstat) — A surging Longwood women’s basketball team will look to pad its Big South Conference record when it visits struggling Gardner-Webb on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, at Paul Porter Arena.

The Lancers (14-6) enter with momentum from a 74-50 rout of South Carolina Upstate last Friday. Gardner-Webb (6-15), meanwhile, seeks to halt a three-game skid after a 73-44 loss at High Point on the same night.

The matchup presents a stark contrast in season trajectories. Longwood has won five of its last seven games, showcasing a potent offense that has scored 80 or more points four times this season. Gardner-Webb has struggled to find consistency, particularly on offense, failing to reach 50 points in three of its last five contests.

A key player to watch for Longwood is Jesstynie Scott. The guard is coming off a career-high 20 points in just 15 minutes against Upstate, highlighting a recent stretch of efficient scoring. Over her last eight games, Scott has averaged double figures when seeing significant minutes, providing a dynamic spark off the bench.

Gardner-Webb will counter with Amira Ofunniyin, who led the team with 14 points in the loss to High Point. Her production has been variable, but she remains a focal point for the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ attack.

In their last outing, Longwood’s Jesstynie Scott, Otaifo Esenabhalu (10 points, 8 rebounds) and Malea Brown (9 points, 5 rebounds) led a balanced effort. Gardner-Webb’s most recent game saw Ofunniyin pace the team, with support from Makayla Legette and Jaelyn Acker.

Historically, Longwood has dominated recent meetings, including a 100-79 win over Winthrop and an 89-56 victory against Presbyterian earlier this month. Gardner-Webb’s path to an upset likely requires a defensive stand to slow the Lancers’ high-paced attack and improved scoring from a unit averaging just 52.4 points in conference play.

Wednesday’s game is the first of two scheduled meetings between the teams this season. They are set to play again in Farmville, Virginia, on Feb. 18.

Up Next: Following this game, Gardner-Webb travels to UNC Asheville on Saturday. Longwood hosts Radford on Feb. 4.