FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood head women's basketball coach Bill Reinson announced Thursday the addition of Jessica Belcher and Mallory Odell to start competing for the Lancers during the 2017-18 season.
 
"Although we only signed two during the fall period, we signed two terrific basketball players," Reinson said. "Mallory Odell and Jessica Belcher both have the potential to challenge for playing time immediately. They are competitive, hard-working young ladies who will be great fits for our program. Aside from their athletic gifts, both are very good students. Their additions will allow us to continue our improvement both on the court and in the classroom."
 
Belcher and Odell will join a young nucleus of talent on the current Longwood roster that includes eight freshmen and sophomores with three of those underclassmen – Kemari Jones, Jada Russell and Ciarah Bennett leading Longwood in scoring.
 
"I'm extremely excited to see how these two young ladies improve during their senior year and can't wait for them to get to campus next summer."

Jessica Belcher | 5-4 | Guard | Stone Mountain, Ga. (North Gwinett)
 
A product of Stone Mountain, Ga., Belcher becomes the first player to call the Peach State home to sign with the Lancers in the Division I era. Averaging in double figures the past two seasons, Belcher tallied 12.9 points, 4.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds last season as a junior. In addition, Belcher has served as team captain and was team MVP for her North Gwinett squad, while also being named second team all-region.
 
"Jessica Belcher was our first commitment for the class of 2017," Reinson said. "It was kind of like love at first sight. We loved her the first time we saw her play on the club circuit and she loved Longwood when she came on her first unofficial visit. If recruiting could always be that easy.  Jess is a lights out shooter, with deep range, who does many other things well."
 
Belcher is the youngest of three sisters who have all played collegiate basketball. Her sister, Joslyn, is a junior on the Augusta State women's basketball team, while her sister, Alyah, plays for Georgia College and State University.
 
"She has a solid game off the bounce and is an extremely underrated passer," Reinson said. " She is quick enough to attack the basket and make a play if people crowd her, but her main weapon is her shooting stroke."
 
At Longwood, Belcher plans to study veterinarian psychology.
 
Mallory Odell | 6-1 | Guard/Forward | Richmond, Va. (Deep Run)
 
Odell comes to Longwood as a dual-sport athlete in basketball and softball. A finalist for the United States U-16 National team in 2015, Odell will come to Longwood as a 1,000-point scorer and owner of the Deep Run school record for most double-doubles in a season with 13. Heading into her senior campaign, she has been a three-time all-conference performer and team captain.
 
"Mallory Odell is a skilled forward who knows how to play the game," Reinson said. "Mallory plays hard and understands the nuances of the game. During the recruiting process, I told her that she was the type of player who didn't need to score a point to be valuable because she does so many other things well. However, she can definitely score and has the potential to be a top-tier player in the Big South Conference. She is from the Richmond area and continues a long line of outstanding players that we have recruited from the metro area."
 
Odell is Longwood's latest signee to come from the Richmond, Va., area, as she'll join future teammate Autumn Childress as Lancers to call The River City home. Odell has averaged in double figures in each of the past three seasons at Deep Run, including 21 points per game to go along with 13 rebounds, six steals and four assists per contest as a junior.
 
On the softball diamond, Odell is a two-time all-conference selection and two-time team captain. She hit .414 last season with six doubles, two triples and 11 RBI for Deep Run.
 
A member of The National Honor Society and The Spanish National Honor Society, Odell took home the Coach's Award following a dynamic junior campaign.
 
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