ROCK HILL, S.C. (Interstat) — A dominant second-quarter surge propelled the Winthrop Eagles to a 75-65 victory over the Longwood Lancers in a Big South Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Winthrop Coliseum.

The game’s decisive stretch came in the second period, where Winthrop outscored Longwood 27-17 to turn a one-point deficit into a nine-point halftime lead it would never relinquish. The Eagles, who trailed 11-10 after a low-scoring first quarter, shot a blistering 64.7% from the field in the second quarter while holding the Lancers to 35.3% shooting. That 17-point swing established a cushion that proved insurmountable for Longwood despite a late push.

Winthrop’s Amourie Porter was the catalyst, scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds for a double-double. The 5-foot-10 guard from Glen Burnie, Maryland, was efficient from the floor and aggressive in the paint, part of a 46-point interior effort for the Eagles. She added two assists and a block in 38 minutes of action. Naomi Wilson, a 6-foot-3 forward from Baldivis, Australia, provided crucial support with 12 points and six rebounds, while Cori Lard of Davenport, Iowa, directed the offense with eight assists.

Longwood, which entered the game with an 18-6 record and an 80.9% win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, was led by Otaifo Esenabhalu’s near double-double of nine points and 11 rebounds. Jesstynie Scott and Malea Brown each added 11 points for the Lancers. The visitors struggled offensively, posting an efficiency rating of 88.3 points per 100 possessions on 39.3% shooting from the field. Their 6-for-19 performance from three-point range failed to offset Winthrop’s overwhelming advantage in two-point scoring.

The Eagles, who improved to 12-15 overall, maintained control throughout the second half. After taking a 37-28 lead into halftime, they opened the third quarter with a quick 8-2 run to extend their advantage to 15 points. Longwood managed to cut the deficit to single digits several times in the fourth quarter, closing to within 63-58 with just over eight minutes to play and again at 69-65 after a Jesstynie Scott three-pointer with two minutes remaining. Each time, Winthrop answered at the free-throw line, where they shot 17 for 23 overall, including key makes down the stretch to seal the victory.

The win avenged a 100-79 loss to Longwood in Farmville, Virginia, just one month prior. For Winthrop, it marked a significant rebound from a three-game losing streak. The Eagles showcased a balanced attack, with Madison Ruff and Ryiah Wilson each contributing 12 and seven points, respectively. Winthrop’s ball security was also pivotal, as they committed 15 turnovers but limited Longwood to only 15 points off those miscues, while scoring 20 points off 14 Lancers turnovers.

Defensively, Winthrop’s ability to protect the paint was paramount. They outrebounded Longwood 38-33 and held the Lancers to 32 points inside, a stark contrast to their own 46-point output in the paint. The Eagles’ defensive effort was reflected in their superior offensive rating of 107.3 points per 100 possessions.

Longwood, which falls to 18-7, saw its three-game winning streak snapped. The Lancers will look to regroup on the road next week. Winthrop, meanwhile, builds momentum as the conference schedule enters its final weeks. The announced attendance at Winthrop Coliseum was 297.