Harris Leads HPU Women’s Basketball to 82-69 Victory over Barton

• Senior Kat Harris posted a career-high 25 points on 6-of-9 shooting from downtown including a 12-point third period as HPU built its lead.
• Junior Shea Morgan collected a career-best 17 points to go with five boards and four assists.
• Junior Lindsey Edwards gave the Panthers three players with career highs notching 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Senior Kat Harris erupted for 12 third-quarter points to spark the High Point University women’s basketball team to an 82-69 victory over Barton College in the Millis Center on Tuesday in the Millis Center.

The Panthers (2-2) held a 37-32 edge at the break before Harris’ dozen anchored a 27-point third period to provide a cushion as HPU moved to .500 on the year. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs (3-3) were unable to capitalize on HPU’s 27 fouls going 11-of-31 from the charity stripe.

“Credit to Barton because if they hit their free throws, then they beat us today,” head coach DeUnna Hendrix said. “I feel like we have a lot to work on and I’m obviously disappointed in our energy. We haven’t practice well, so going into today I was anxious and I’m just happy to get the win. Our effort wasn’t at 100 percent and I tell my team all the time that if you’re not going 100 percent then you’re probably going to be average at best.”

Coming off the bench, Harris converted six of her nine attempts from beyond the arc to account for all of High Point’s makes from downtown. The Charlotte, N.C. native finished the night with a career-high 25 points while grabbing seven rebounds and five steals – another career best.

Joining Harris with career-high scoring outings, junior Lindsey Edwards hit 7-of-13 from the field to post 20 points while junior Shea Morgan went 8-of-10 to rack up 17 points. Behind those three stellar offensive outputs, the Panthers finished the night 31-of-62 (50 percent) from the field.

On the inside, redshirt-junior Kennedy Currie controlled the paint racking up nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Likewise, sophomore Olivia VanSlooten was credited with two points, four boards and a block in the win.

Despite not having their typical scoring impact, sophomore Camryn Brown led the team with five assists and junior Emma Bockrath pulled down eight rebounds to go with two steals.

In total, the unselfish Panthers racked up 22 assists on their 31 made field goals. The home team also held a 42-31 margin on the boards in the contest while losing the turnover battle by one (18-17).

Defensively, the Purple & White allowed Barton to shoot 43.6 percent (24-of-55) including 10 three-pointers – the most against HPU this season.

After a chopping start, Harris came off the bench and canned two quick three-pointers to jump-start the HPU offense as the Panthers led 19-13 with 1:10 left in the first. However, the Bulldogs bounced back with an 8-2 spurt to even the score with back-to-back threes to open the second (21-21, 9:20).

Edwards, though, had the answer scoring the next three HPU baskets to put her team back on top 27-23 with 5:13 left in the half. Three minutes later, Morgan hit a jumper to extend the Panther’s lead to nine, 37-28, with 90 second left in the half, But Barton chipped away and trailed by just four at the break, 37-32.

Following the intermission, HPU led by as many as 12 before Barton cut the deficit to eight with 3:10 remaining in the third. That’s when Harris took over. The senior converted a three-point play and two three-pointers over the next three minutes to give HPU a 64-51 edge at the end of the frame.

From there, the Bulldogs couldn’t get any closer than nine, 66-57, as HPU cruised to an 82-69 victory.

The Purple & White have the rest of the week off while celebrating Thanksgiving before heading to Stetson on Monday, Nov. 27 to take on the Hatters at 7:00 p.m. The team then continues its road trip at Norfolk State with a 5:30 p.m. showdown on Wednesday, Nov. 29. HPU returns to the Millis Center on Dec. 3 when it hosts UAB.