HPU WBB Travels West For Contest With No. 12 Nebraska

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball team will look to rebound from its 81-59 loss at VCU on Saturday at 4 p.m. against No. 12 Nebraska in Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The Panthers had their four-game winning streak snapped against the Rams, but will try to finish off their non-conference schedule on a good note against the Cornhuskers.

Last Time Out:
The Panthers got off to a good start against VCU on Thursday and a three by redshirt-senior Lindsay Puckett made it 53-49 with 11:30 to go. However, the Rams finished the game on a 28-10 run and pulled away for an 81-59 win.

Three seniors led High Point on Thursday. Redshirt-senior Stacia Robertson posted her third straight double-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks. The forward hit 6-of-11 from the floor and also tallied six offensive rebounds in the losing effort. Senior Latrice Phelps led the team in scoring with 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting while pulling down six rebounds. Puckett made it three Panthers in double figures with 12 points on the strength of two key 3-pointers to keep the game close in the second half.

Sophomore Kaylah Keys had six points and four assists while running the point in senior Ashante Richard’s absence. Freshman Kat Harris led the reserves with five points off the bench and went 3-of-3 from the free throw line.

The team entered the game on a four-game winning streak after sweeping through its four-game home stand. However, the Panthers couldn’t dial in from deep shooting 3-of-19 (16 percent) from beyond the arc. HPU was also outrebounded 48-37. Despite losing the rebounding battle, the team did post 26 points in the paint thanks to the stellar play of Robertson and Phelps on the inside.

The Opponent:
The Cornhuskers are ranked No. 12 in the nation on the strength of a 9-1 start. Nebraska has won back-to-back games since falling 63-61 at Alabama on Dec. 7. The most recent win came against Bakersfield in a 54-45 triumph on Dec. 13 behind 13 points, 15 rebounds and five assists from senior Emily Cady. Like High Point, the Huskers are off to a 6-0 start in home games.

Junior Rachel Theriot leads the team with 17.0 points per game and is shooting 50 percent from the floor and 59 percent from 3-point land. Cady, a forward, is the squad’s main inside presence adding 13.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per contest. Senior guard Tear’a Laudermill is the third Husker averaging in double figures with 11.4 points per night. Nebraska relies heavily on its starters who account for 85 percent of the team’s scoring while playing nearly 80 percent of the available minutes.

Nebraska is shooting 43 percent from the floor while holding its opponents to just 34 percent on the year. The Cornhuskers are knocking down a solid 5.7 3-pointers per contest. The team knows how to get to the line as well, at it averages 18.6 free throw attempts per game and converts on over three-quarters of those opportunities. Behind Cady, the Huskers are outrebounding their opponent by 4.2 rebounds per game. The Huskers have won their home games by an average of 19 points while allowing just 52 points a game.

Panther Notes:
• Redshirt-senior Stacia Robertson, a Nebraska native, has collected a double-double in each of the team’s last three games, including her 14-point, 14-rebound outing against VCU on Thursday.
• Robertson became the first HPU student-athlete to earn consecutive Big South Player of the Week honors (Dec. 8 and Dec. 15) for her performances against Longwood, Presbyterian and UNCG.
• Sophomore Kaylah Keys has scored in double figures in 8-of-10 games this season and is tops in the Big South with 28 made 3-pointers this season.
• Senior Latrice Phelps is coming off one of her best performances of the season scoring 15 points and grabbing six rebounds against VCU.
• All three seniors that played on Thursday reached double digits in scoring. Phelps led with 15 points while Robertson added 14 and Lindsay Puckett scored 12.
• The Cornhuskers are the Panthers’ first ranked opponent of the year and their first since Dec. 21, 2013 when they played No. 13 North Carolina.

Next Up:
The Panthers will enjoy their Christmas break before jumping headlong into Big South Conference play at Coastal Carolina on Dec. 30 at 7 p.m. The next time HPU will be in the Millis Center is Jan. 5 against Campbell.