HPU Women’s Basketball Panthers edged by Spartans 82-72

• Junior Kaylah Keys tallied 19 points to move past Misty Brockman (1999-03) for seventh place on HPU’s Division I scoring list.
• Freshman Emma Bockrath led the Panthers posting career highs in points (15), rebounds (8) and assists (3).
• High Point returns home on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. against Davidson before spending Thanksgiving break playing the Cancun Challenge against UAB and Georgia Tech.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball team battled UNCG for 40 minutes, but came up short with an 82-72 setback on Saturday afternoon in Fleming Gymnasium.

Junior Kaylah Keys and freshman Emma Bockrath combined for 34 points for the Panthers (1-3) on the afternoon. However, it was junior Lucy Mason’s 42 points that led the Spartans (2-2) to the victory.

“I didn’t feel good about our mentality during pregame and we have a lot of young kids that don’t understand you have to come out and fight every day,” head coach DeUnna Hendrix said. “We have a lot of maturing to do and the more comfortable we get, the better we will be. But give credit to UNCG they played well and Mason made baskets when they needed them.”

Keys’ 19 points allowed her to move past Misty Brockman (1999-03) for seventh on HPU’s Division I scoring list with 1,072 points. Meanwhile, sophomore Kat Harris equaled her career-best with 12 points as freshman Shea Morgan upped her high to 11 points.

Bockrath led the team in rebounding with eight rebounds to go along with her 15 points and three assists – all career highs. Senior Aariel Allen chipped in with six points and five rebounds as the Panthers earned a +2 (37-35) margin on the glass.

High Point tallied more field goals (29 to 26) and more 3-pointer’s (5 to 4) despite being outshot 49 percent to 42 percent. But it was UNCG’s ability to penetrate and get to the line (26-of-35) that allowed the home team to come away with the win.

The Spartans put in three quick layups to build a 6-2 lead, but triples from Keys and Harris sparked a 10-2 run for HPU (12-8, 5:00). However, UNCG bounced back and evened the score at 18-all after one quarter of action.

A slow offensive start to the second quarter allowed the home team to go on an 11-5 run to take a 6-point lead (29-23, 5:21). Allen pulled the Purple & White back within three at 35-32 off an assist from Bockrath (0:45). But Mason tallied a 4-point play before Harris beat the buzzer with a jumper to send the teams to the locker room with UNCG hanging on to a 39-34 edge.

Two free throws from Bockrath and two layups from Allen and Harris gave HPU a 6-2 run to make it 41-40. However, Mason had the answer for UNCG as her banked-in 3-pointer sparked an 8-1 spurt to build a 49-41 advantage midway through the third period. Bockrath had the answer though as the freshman hit two 3-pointers to pull the Purple & White within two (49-47, 2:17). The Spartans didn’t let HPU pull any closer and carried a 56-52 lead into the final period.

Two 3-point plays by Jazmine Missouri gave UNCG a 62-54 edge before Morgan converted a 3-point play of her own (62-57). Mason took over from there for the Spartans scoring nine points as the home team stretched its lead to a dozen (73-61, 4:10). Keys scored nine quick points to will the Panthers back within five (75-70), but the Spartans were able to hold on for an 82-72 victory.

The Panthers will be back home on Tuesday when they most Davidson at 7:00 p.m. in the Millis Center. Following that game, HPU will be off to Cancun, Mexico to take on UAB and Georgia Tech in the Cancun Challenge on Nov. 26-27.