HPU Women’s Basketball Panthers Outlast Asheville 82-75 In Home Finale

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball team held on for an 82-75 over UNC Asheville in the team’s home finale on Saturday at the Millis Center. HPU opened up as much as an 18-point lead in the first half before the Bulldogs surged back into the game. Stacia Robertson posted 16 points and nine rebounds in her final home game.

“Asheville is a team that prides itself on hard work,” said head coach DeUnna Hendrix. “We knew if we relaxed for a second they would be right back in the game and that is what happened. We are still working on putting together a complete game and we will work on that this week. I am so happy we got a win on senior day for Stacia Robertson and Lexi Patterson. They have been such an important part of this program.”

Freshman Kaylah Keys led the Panthers with 17 points in the win, scoring 15 in the second half. She also had six rebounds and four steals. Robertson added three blocks and two steals to her 16-point performance. Latrice Phelps, Ashante Richard and Teddy Vincent each scored 11 points each.

High Point improves to 18-9 on the season with a 14-4 mark in Big South play. Asheville falls to 10-17 overall and 8-11 in league play.

High Point held a 20-19 advantage after a three by Asheville’s Tianna Knuckles at 10:15. The Panthers went on a 18-1 run to open up the biggest lead of the first half capped off by a jumper from Richard with 4:24 on the clock. High Point held Asheville without a field goal until there was 43 seconds left in the half but the Bulldogs used free throws to stay in the game. Shonese Jones snapped the skid for Asheville with a three pointer to make it a 38-30 game. Jones and Knuckles added jumpers in the final 30 seconds to cut High Point’s lead to 38-34 at halftime.

Asheville continued to fight back in to the game, tying the score 46-46, with 16:44 on the clock in the second half. Phelps answered with a basket to give High Point back the lead, 48-46, and the Panthers led for the rest of the day.

A layup by Robertson with 8:50 to play extended High Point’s lead to 12 points, 65-53. Once again, Asheville battled back, using a 10-1 run to get within three, 78-75, with 1:33 to play. Keys made three free throws down the stretch to secure the 82-75 win.

High Point has won three in a row and 10 of its last 11 games. The Panthers travel to Winthrop on Thursday for a 7 p.m. contest. The Eagles are in first place in the Big South, one game ahead of High Point.