HPU WBB Falls 64-61 At Campbell

• Redshirt-senior Stacia Robertson led the Panthers with 20 points and a career-high 20 rebounds.
• The Purple & White earned a +16 (48-32) margin on the glass and posted 16 offensive rebounds.
• High Point will be back home on Tuesday at 7 p.m. when it hosts UNC Asheville in the Millis Center.

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball team fell 64-61 to Campbell in Gore Arena on Saturday despite 20 points and 20 rebounds from redshirt-senior Stacia Robertson.

The Panthers (15-11, 11-6) had a potential game-tying 3-point attempt by freshman Kat Harris blocked in the final second as the Camels (16-9, 11-5) held HPU without a field for the final 5:17 to earn the win.

“This was your typical High Point versus Campbell game,” head coach DeUnna Hendrix said. “Both teams played hard and fought for 40 minutes. I can’t fault our effort we just didn’t make the plays we needed to win.”

Robertson’s 20-point, 20-rebound performance is the first for an HPU player since Cheyenne Parker posted 34 points and 20 rebounds at Longwood on Feb. 7, 2013. The Grand Island, Neb. native added two blocks and two assists.

Redshirt-senior Lindsay Puckett chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds while senior Ashante Richard scored eight points and had a team high three assists. Junior Aariel Allen led the reserves with a season high eight points and six rebounds.

The Panthers outrebounded the Camels by a +16 margin (48-32), but couldn’t overcome their season-high 27 turnovers. Robertson went 6-of-7 from the free throw line as the squad hit 10-of-12 (83 percent) from the charity stripe while Campbell went 15-of-21 (71 percent).

HPU finished the game shooting 24-of-60 (40 percent) from the floor while holding the Camels to 24-of-62 (39 percent) and just one made 3-pointer.

In the early going, neither team able to build a lead larger than four points until senior Latrice Phelps’ jumper at the 10:41 mark made it 17-12 in HPU’s favor. The Panthers’ advantage swelled to eight when Harris drilled a 3-pointer from the right wing (20-12, 10:18).

The Camels, however, responded with a run of their own and when Summer Price’s jumper at the 4:29 mark found the bottom of the net the score was even at 22-22. Sophomore Teddy Vincent ended the run with a jumper in the lane and Richard extended the HPU lead back to five with a 3-point play (27-22, 4:04).

Nonetheless, Campbell came right back and finished the half on a 12-4 run to take a 34-31 lead at the break. The Camels’ run was aided by their active defense that forced 17 HPU turnovers in the first half.

Campbell’s Amanda Coffer made the opening basket of the second half to give the Camels a 36-31 lead. But this time it was the Panthers that had the emphatic answer.

HPU got eight points from Robertson to ignite a 14-1 run to build a 45-38 advantage with 14:07 to play.

The game of runs continued as the Camels went on an 11-0 run to build a four-point lead (49-45, 11:30). Puckett ended the run with a 3-pointer from the right wing at the 11:14 mark (49-48).

From there Campbell extended its lead back to four points with a free throw and a layup by Jessica Pone (52-48, 10:13). Robertson, again, anchored a 6-0 run to help HPU get back on top 54-52 with 8:09 to play.

The Camels bounced back and seize a 56-54 advantage before Richard finished her second 3-point play of the afternoon to put HPU back up. (57-56, 6:26). Summer Price hit a jumper for Campbell and Richard followed with another layup to make it 59-58 with 5:17 to play.

The teams traded trips to the charity stipe before Kiera Gaines sank two free throws to push the Camels on top by one (62-61, 2:03). HPU missed on two chances to take the lead and Summer Leverette hit a baseline jumper with 14 seconds left give Campbell a 64-61 lead.

The Panthers’ last-chance 3-point attempt by Harris was blocked by Gaines to secure the 64-61 win for the Camels.

The Purple & White will return home on Tuesday evening to host UNC Asheville in the Millis Center at 7 p.m.