CLINTON, S.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball team’s seven-game win streak was snapped Saturday evening as the Panthers fell on the road 56-48 to Presbyterian College. Freshman Kaylah Keys led the Panthers in scoring with 20 points while hitting four three pointers.
“I was very disappointed with our team’s effort tonight,” said head coach DeUnna Hendrix. “I thought our focus wasn’t where it needed to be tonight and our energy on the court was very low. It’s a disappointing loss but we have a quick turn around so we have to flip the page and get ready for Monday.”
Keys and Presbyterian’s Karlee Taylor both scored game-highs of 20 points Saturday evening. Stacia Robertson chipped in nine points with a team-high seven boards for HPU while PC had Aianna Kelly and Megan Schaaf combine for 30 points with 11 and 10 points, respectively. The Panthers outrebounded PC on the offensive glass 15-10, which led to 10 second chance buckets for High Point.
With the loss, HPU falls to 15-9 overall this season and 11-4 in Big South Conference play. PC moves to 9-17 overall and 7-10 in league play.
HPU fell behind early in the first half but was able to pull back into the game as the Panthers and Blue Hose swapped buckets. HPU and PC had 10 lead changes in the first half including Presbyterian taking the lead in the final 30 seconds as Taylor drained a three-pointer followed by a buzzer-beating jumper by Sherece Smith in the pain to give the Blue Hose a 30-26 lead at half.
The Panthers came out of half and scored the first three points behind a Stacia Robertson layup and free throw but were unable to ever regain a lead in the second half. High Point was plagued by 17 turnovers in the game, which Presbyterian capitalized on resulting in 27 points for the Blue Hose.
HPU shot just 31.4 percent from the floor in the game, which was the second-lowest total on the season. The only time HPU had a lower shooting percentage was in the Panthers’ last loss to Charleston Southern. High Point’s 48 points was also the second-lowest scoring total on the year to that CSU game.
Taylor drained four three-pointers en route to a 20-point performance, which was just four off of her career-high. The Blue Hose ended the game shooting 51.1 percent and outscored the Panthers 30-12 in the paint.
High Point will travel to Charleston Southern on Monday for a 7 p.m. game. The Buccaneers defeated the Panthers 56-53 at the Millis Center earlier this season. The Buccaneers lost a close one 72-71 against Campbell on Saturday afternoon to move to 8-17 on the year and 4-12 in league play.