HPU WBB’s Balance Too Much For Campbell, Wins 79-59

• The 79-59 triumph gives High Point 12 consecutive wins in the Millis Center dating back to Jan. 11, 2014. It ties the team for the second longest such streak in the Div. I era.
• Redshirt-senior Stacia Robertson led the Panthers with 21 points and seven rebounds to go with three blocks and a steal.
• Sophomore Teddy Vincent came off the bench and poured in 14 points on the strength of three 3-pointers.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball team returned home on Monday night and earned a 79-59 win over Campbell (8-6, 3-2) inside the Millis Center.

The victory was the Panthers’ (8-5, 4-1) 12th straight triumph at home, a streak that dates back to Jan. 11, 2014. It is the second longest streak in the program’s Div. I era trailing the 19-game streak from Dec. 2006 – Dec. 2007.

“I’m really proud of our kids’ response coming off the loss at Liberty,” head coach DeUnna Hendrix said of HPU’s performance Monday night. “I liked our energy in practice yesterday and today was very indicative of their motivation going forward.”

Redshirt-senior Stacia Robertson led the way on both ends of the floor with 21 points and seven rebounds to go along with three blocks and a steal. The 21 points gives her 960 for her career and moved her past Candyce Sellars (2003-07) and into eighth place on the program’s Div. I scoring list.

Sophomore Teddy Vincent posted a season-high 14 points, with 11 points coming in just 10 minutes in the first half. Sophomore Kaylah Keys scored 14 points to go with four rebounds and a season-high tying five assists. She has now scored in double figures in 24 of her 25 Big South regular season games. Redshirt-senior Lindsay Puckett made it four Panthers in double digits with 10 points.

“If our guards come to play and can hit shots it opens up the inside for our post players,” Hendrix said of the team’s balance that allowed Robertson room to work inside as she shot 9-of-10 from the floor. “When we have our guards hitting shots the opponent has to pick their poison.”

Led by Vincent and eight points from sophomore DeAnneisha Jackson, the Panthers’ reserves outscored the Camels bench 24-9 on the evening. HPU won the rebounding battle 40-29 and also compiled 15 assists behind senior Ashante Richard’s seven-assist performance.

HPU got out to an early 9-4 lead as Keys and Puckett knocked down 3-pointers. The Panthers then went cold and Campbell responded with six straight points to take a 10-9 advantage with 14:49 left in the half. Robertson didn’t let that last long as she scored on the next trip to spark a 10-2 spurt as HPU took a 19-12 lead midway through the first frame.

Campbell was able to break up the run, but Vincent built HPU’s lead by drilling two 3-pointers from the left corner to make it 25-18 with six minutes remaining. The Purple & White was able to build its lead to eight on back-to-back layups from Robertson sandwiched around a basket by the Camels. Vincent then extended the HPU lead out to double digits with three points the old fashioned way (33-23, 3:18). A minute later, Vincent hit a jumper to give HPU a 12-point advantage at 37-25 and the Panthers took a 43-34 lead to the half.

Robertson opened the second half with a 3-point play on a nice reverse layup to give HPU a 12-point lead with 19:20 left in the contest. Later, Keys knocked down a 3-pointer at the 15:30 mark to make it 54-40, HPU’s largest lead to that point. The Camels pulled back within nine on a 3-pointer by Kiera Gaines, however, Vincent had the answer with her third triple of the game to give HPU a 12-point lead.

From there the Purple & White was able to stretch its lead out to 18 after Jackson hit a layup off an assist from Keys (69-51, 6:30). Campbell was able to get the deficit down to 15 on multiple occasions, but the Panthers were able to pull away for the 20-point win.

The Panthers will be back on the road on Thursday to take on Charleston Southern at 7 p.m. It will be another quick turnaround, as HPU will return home on Saturday to entertain Winthrop at 2 p.m.