HPU WBB Cruises In Big South Opener, 81-60, Over Longwood

• High Point went 11-of-24 (46 percent) from 3-point land to mark the first time this season the team has hit double digit 3-pointers.
• Sophomore Kaylah Keys scored 21 points, knocking down 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. It was her second straight game with five 3-pointers and fourth 20-point effort of the year.
• Senior Stacia Robertson did it all for the Panthers posting 10 points, seven rebounds, five assists and tied her career high with six blocks.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball team opened Big South Conference play with a convincing 81-60 decision over visiting Longwood Tuesday night inside the Millis Center.

The Panthers (4-3, 1-0 Big South) outscored the Lancers (0-6, 0-1 Big South) 27-14 over the final 11 minutes of the first half to cruise to the home win – its fourth home victory of the year and ninth straight win at the Millis Center.

“I was really proud of our kids’ maturity,” head coach DeUnna Hendrix said of how the team would respond after its emotional comeback against Elon on Sunday. “I was worried how we would play in the first conference game, but I was proud of the maturity level.”

Sophomore Kaylah Keys once again led the offense, scoring 21 points on 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc. It marked the fourth time in seven games that she scored at least 20 points.

Redshirt-senior Stacia Robertson stuffed the stat sheet for the Panthers. She posted 10 points, tied a career high with six blocks and chipped in seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Freshman Kat Harris made it three Panthers in double figures with a career-high 12 points.

“I feel like anyone on our roster can score, but it’s such a team-oriented environment,” Hendrix said. “People are talking about our post game, but our guards are playing well, too.”

Senior Latrice Phelps led the Purple & White in rebounds with nine while posting nine points to just miss a double-double. Sophomore DeAnneisha Jackson added seven points and four rebounds while sophomores Teddy Vincent and Maja Michalska each registered six points. Senior Ashante Richard led the team with six assists as the team dished out 19 dimes on 30 made field goals.

High Point outshot Longwood 46 percent to 30 percent from the floor while dominating the boards at 52-34. Led by Harris, the Panthers’ bench outscored the Lancers’ bench 37-7 to create the winning margin.

Both offenses got off to slow starts, as the score was just 7-4 HPU at the first media timeout and 16-10 the 11:18 mark. But a layup by Robertson and back-to-back 3-pointers from Vincent quickly made it 24-10 in the Panthers’ favor with 8:54 left in the half. From there the Purple & White expanded its lead to 43-24 entering the half thanks in large part to 7-of-10 shooting from 3-point land – with three triples from Keys and the two by Vincent.

Longwood pulled back within 19 at 49-30 at the 14:34 mark of the second half. However, Michalska had an answer on the next possession knocking down a 3-pointer to put HPU’s lead back over 20 at 52-30 with 14 minutes to play.

After the Panthers expanded their lead to 25 at 58-33, the Lancers stormed back with a 10-2 run to make it 60-43 with just over eight minutes to go. But once again HPU had an answer as Keys poured in her fourth and fifth triples of the contest to make it 66-43 with seven minutes remaining. From there, High Point was able to cruise to an 81-60 win.

The Panthers will play their third straight home game on Saturday at 2 p.m. against another conference foe in Presbyterian. The game will kickoff a full day of HPU basketball as the men’s team plays William & Mary at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening. The team’s four-game home stand will come to an end on Monday against UNCG at 7 p.m. inside the Millis Center.