• Redshirt-senior Stacia Robertson and senior Latrice Phelps combined for 44 points and 18 rebounds in HPU’s 91-74 loss at Winthrop.
• HPU was outrebounded, 47-36, and surrendered 19 offensive rebounds.
• The Panthers drop to 15-10 overall and 11-5 in the Big South with the loss.
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball team fell to Winthrop by a score of 91-74 in Big South road action on Tuesday evening in Rock Hill, S.C. Redshirt-senior Stacia Robertson and senior Latrice Phelps combined for 44 points in the loss.
“We did not play well tonight or show anywhere near enough heart,” head coach DeUnna Hendrix said. “We have to figure out a way to win on the road. Latrice, Stacia and DeAnneisha had great performances and put out a great effort but they needed more help. Our rebounding wasn’t good enough tonight and that really hurt us. We need to regroup now and get ready for a talented Campbell team this weekend.”
Phelps led HPU with 25 points while Robertson finished with 19. The pair combined to shoot 17-29 from the field while grabbing 18 rebounds. Sophomore DeAnneisha Jackson also finished in double-figures on the night with 10 points to go along with seven rebounds.
Erica Williams and Aliyah Kirkpatrick spearheaded the Winthrop offense on the night as Williams scored 24 points and Kirkpatrick added 20. Shaquilla Nunn contributed 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Eagles.
Winthrop outrebounded High Point by a 47-36 margin on the night and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds, which resulted in 23 second-chance points.
The Eagles built an early lead thanks to Nunn and Williams who combined to score 12 of the host’s first 17 points. High Point pulled to within one (25-24) after two free throws by sophomore Kaylah Keys with just under seven minutes remaining, but Winthrop responded by outscoring the Panthers 20-11 in the rest of the first half to take a 45-35 lead into the break.
High Point got a bucket from Robertson and two from Phelps to open the second half, pulling HPU to within six at 47-41 just two minutes into period. Winthrop responded thought with an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to go ahead by 14, 55-41.
A jumper by Phelps with 9:22 to play got High Point back within single-digits at 65-56, but that would be as close as the Panthers would get on the night as Winthrop scored the next five points on a layup by Nunn and a three from Zoe Vernon to go back ahead by 13.
The loss drops High Point to 15-10 overall and 11-5 in the Big South this season. Winthrop improves to 14-10 overall and 10-5 in conference play.
High Point heads to Buies Creek, N.C., this weekend for a game against Campbell on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m. HPU won the first game between the two teams earlier this season by a score of 79-59. Robertson had 21 points and seven rebounds to lead the Panthers.