HPU WBB Panthers host Eagles in annual Pink Game

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball hosts its Pink Game on Saturday at 2 p.m. when Winthrop visits the Millis Center.

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The Panthers (9-15, 8-7) are coming off their best offensive output of the season in an 89-70 victory at Longwood on Tuesday. On the other side of the court, the Eagles (4-20, 3-12) continue to struggle after being decimated by injuries this season.

Pink Game Information
For the annual Pink Game, Alight Foundation will be in attendance and we will do a “Miracle Minute” in efforts to fundraise for cancer research. Also, the first 200 fans will receive a Think Pink shirt.

Last Time Out
High Point started the Tuesday’s contest at Longwood hot with an 8-0 run out of the gate. From there, the lead grew as large as 20 points on multiple occasions as the Panthers drilled a season-best 11 three-pointers. However, the Lancers hit their share of shots to cut the lead to seven with 2:56 to play. But the Purple & White hit 10 straight free throws to close out the 89-70 win.

Junior Kaylah Keys led HPU with 25 points on four three-pointers while adding five steals and four assists. Keys’ backcourt mates sophomore Kat Harris contributed a career-high 19 points as freshman Emma Bockrath chipped in with 12 points – all in the second half. In the frontcourt, freshman Haleigh Hatfield recorded a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds while hitting all four of her shots.

The Panthers dominated the boards with a 43-28 rebounding edge. Meanwhile, the squad took full advantage of the charity stripe converting 24 of its 25 attempts.

Hatfield the Sharpshooter
The reigning Big South Freshman of the Week, Haleigh Hatfield has hit 9 of her last 13 three-point attempts. The forward is averaging 14.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in the last three games.

Keys’ Climb
Junior Kaylah Keys – the conference’s leading active scorer – is second on HPU’s D-I scoring list with 1,378 points in just two-plus seasons.

They’re Free
• The Panthers lead the Big South in free throw percentage at .744

• Shea Morgan, Kat Harris, Haleigh Hatfield and Kaylah Keys are all shooting over .800.

Scouting the Eagles
• Injuries have derailed a promising season for the Eagles. Preseason all-league forward Schaquilla Nunn went down before the season began. Then starting point guard Jimecheia Banks and top-sub Ezinne Mbamalu went down. Since the first meeting the conference’s leading scorer Erica Williams has been lost for the season.

• Junior Aliyah Kilpatrick, who has missed three games on the year, leads the team with 13.8 points per game including a 21-point outing in the team’s win over Coastal Carolina last Saturday.

• Junior CiiCii Buford has stepped up recently scoring in double-digits in Winthrop’s last two games.

• Another bright spot for the Eagles is freshman Arianne Whitaker. The forward has missed seven contests in her own right, but when healthy has been one of the Big South’s best freshmen averaging 7.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.

All-Time Series with Winthrop
The Panthers and Eagles have split the last 10 meetings 5-5, but HPU maintains a 24-20 edge in the series.

Last Time They Met
Freshman Haleigh Hatfield hit four three-pointers in the midst of a 20-point performance to lead the Panthers to a 74-67 road victory at Winthrop on Jan. 19.

Next Up
The Panthers are back at home on Tuesday at 7 p.m. to host the Liberty Flames.