High Point WBB shoots its way past Presbyterian, 87-60

• The Panthers shot 8-of-11 from beyond the arc after the first quarter to finish the game with 10 three-pointers – the most for HPU in conference play this season.
• Junior Kat Harris and sophomore Emma Bockrath each posted 15 points apiece to lead four Panthers in double figures.
• Senior Kaylah Keys tallied 10 points to move past Angie Green and into fifth in High Point’s all-time scoring list.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball team outscored Presbyterian 49-32 in the second half en route to an 87-60 victory in the Millis Center on Sunday.

Junior Kat Harris kicked off the game with seven straight points to give the Panthers (6-13, 4-4) a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. However, the Blue Hose (6-13, 4-4) battled back to within four in the second quarter and trailed by 10 at halftime.

However, Harris again opened the second half with a three-pointer to spark a run that put the contest out of reach. After shooting 13-of-30 (43 percent) in the first half, the Purple & White hit all three three-point attempts and 18-30 overall (60 percent) after the break.

“I think I’m most impressed with our team’s response to our performance at Campbell,” head coach DeUnna Hendrix said. “For us to come out and play a complete forty minutes as a unit shows that we’re growing as a team. I really just challenged us to attack their defense because we were passive against Campbell and we really executed that gameplan today.”

The Charlotte, N.C. product tallied 15 points on 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc and 4-of-4 shooting from the line. Likewise, sophomore Emma Bockrath recorded 15 points to go along with six rebounds and five assists.

Rounding out the double-digit scorers for the Purple & White, freshman Camryn Brown tallied 12 points while senior Kaylah Keys posted 10. Keys’ 10 points moved her past Angie Green and in to fifth on HPU’s all-time scoring list with 1,692 career points.

On an afternoon highlighted by team effort, High Point had 13 players score and 13 players grab at least one rebound. The squad also posted 21 assists on 31 made field goals with Bockrath and Keys each registering five helpers.

Redshirt-sophomore Kennedy Currie tied Bockrath for the team lead in rebounds with six as Harris and sophomores Haleigh Hatfield and Taylor McGlashan each pulled down five apiece.

As a team, High Point owned the glass recording a +23 (48-25) margin including 13 offensive rebounds, which led to 12 second-chance points.

Juniors Cortney Storey and Janie Miles each tallied 18 points for PC in a losing effort. In the contest, HPU held PC to a 31 percent shooting clip (18-58).

In the opening minutes, Harris sparked the Panthers with a personal 7-0 to start the contest. However, the Blue Hose played the rest of the quarter even and entered the second quarter trailing 17-10.

Both teams found their rhythm from beyond the arc as the Blue Hose hit 4-of-9 and the Panthers drilled 5-of-8 in the second period. During the period, PC fought to within four, 27-23, before junior Bre Davis hit a trifecta and Brown followed with two more to up the lead to 13 (36-23, 1:37).

After halftime, Harris ignited a 28-16 run with a half-opening three as HPU carried a 66-44 lead into the final period.

In the fourth, eight different Panthers scored as the team closed out the 87-60 victory.

The Purple & White are back on the road on Tuesday when they travel to Longwood for a 7 p.m. contest with the Lancers.