The Eagles fell to a 9-11 record after playing four games within the past two weeks of play.
On Jan. 21, the Eagles carried high intensity into a home match-up against the Longwood Lancers.
From the opening tip, both teams’ play nearly mirrored each other. The game was slow paced, but the Eagles and the Lancers both battled through the offensive and defensive positions closely.
The home team handled the pressure well, and a few key plays — including a big steal from Maleeah Langstaff — would help the Eagles tie the score at the end of the first quarter, 14-14.
During the second quarter, Langstaff would continue to dazzle the crowd sporting textbook moves and securing steals.
Along with Langstaff, Anika Riley, Myra Strickland, Jah’Che Whitfield and Miquela Santoro also contributed to the successful second quarter.
Winthrop finished out the first half with a 43% shooting average. Coupled with sturdy defense, the Eagles took a nine point lead into the locker room at halftime.
By mid-game break, the first 20 minutes of play had seen six ties and eight lead changes.
Forward Kem Nwabudu, who saw her first action of the game at the 7:37 mark of the third quarter, would then seal the lead by hitting a two-point jumper.
With the game so close, Winthrop never stopped attacking.
Langstaff and Nwabudu continued their power-punching and helped build the team up to the final minutes of play.
“Longwood was a big game for us that we knew we needed to win and I just wanted to do whatever I could to help my team,” Langstaff said.
The Eagles powered through to take a nine-point victory over the Lancers, 74-63.
The team would then travel to South Carolina’s lowcountry on Jan. 25 to take on the Buccaneers of Charleston Southern University.
The game presented the 85th all-time meeting of the two teams and proved to be a battle.
Winthrop went in wanting their second consecutive win, while Charleston Southern was looking to bounce back from a loss.
The Eagles outscored the Bucs three out of the four quarters, and tallied 18 second chance points — to the opponent’s three.
A five-point win, 58-53, gave Winthrop a two-win streak, they could pack back to Rock Hill.
For Langstaff and Nwabudu their performances prove their growth as players.
“The difference is I feel more molded,” Nwabudu said. “Last year I was kind of this unchained freshman girl, I didn’t fear anything. This year I feel more level headed and mature. I access my opportunities,” Nwabudu said.
Langstaff credits the new team dynamic.
“There’s been a difference in the style of coaching and the way we run offenses and defenses,” Langstaff said. “It’s been a season of a lot of changes and really just learning and improving the teams game.”
After defeating Charleston Southern, Winthrop went in search of a three-win streak as the Eagles met up with the UNC Asheville Bulldogs in the Winthrop Coliseum on Jan. 28.
Winthrop started the game out slow and were down 15-4 at the end of the first quarter.
Points in the paint carried Asheville during the first half, with 22 out of their 27 points coming from down low.
However, a resurgence of energy lifted the Eagles, and put them within five points at the half, 22-27.
In the second half, despite good ball movement, Winthrop still could not overcome the scoring spell of Asheville.
Whitfield and Strickland, freshman guard, led the team with 15 and 14 points. Strickland tallied her career high in points, going 4-of-6 from behind the arc.
The Eagles then traveled to face the High Point Panthers to open the month of February.
Langstaff and Nwabudu continued their high performances as some of the squad’s top performers, scoring 15 and 13 at the game on Feb. 1.
Turnovers told the tale for the Eagles, as the Panthers scored 18 points off of Winthrop’s miscommunications.
In this duel, the high for Winthrop came through second chance points — a statistic where they led the Panthers 8-6.
Another high came at the free throw line, where the Eagles completed 82% of their foul shots.
At the final buzzer, the score remained in favor of the Panthers at 94-61.
Despite the recent losses, the Eagles continue to look forward and keep their eyes open.
Players like Nwabudu seek to feed off her big performances earlier in the season.
“I am looking to feed off that energy and remind myself how great it felt at Radford, despite the loss and just remind myself to stay focused,” Nwabudu said.
The Eagles have displayed a surplus of energy throughout the season and time is not up yet.
“We have a job to accomplish and I think we are very motivated to continue to win and establish ourselves as a top team in the Big South conference,” Langstaff said.
Photo: Provided by Winthrop Athletics
