HPU WBB Wins Eighth Straight with 62-41 Win over Longwood

• High Point is 6-0 in conference play for the first time since 2011-12 team started 9-0, which also represents the last time HPU had a streak longer than its current eight-game streak.
• Junior Emma Bockrath paced the Panthers with a game-high 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting.
• The Purple & White defense was disruptive throughout the afternoon forcing 31 turnovers with the team scoring 32 off those extra chances.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball team forced 31 Longwood turnovers and converted those miscues into 32 points in a 62-41 triumph on Saturday in the Millis Center.

The win gives the Panthers (12-5) their eighth straight victory – the longest since the 9-0 start to Big South play in 2011-12. It also keeps head coach DeUnna Hendrix’s longest undefeated start to conference play as the team moves to 6-0. Conversely, the result drops the Lancers to 1-5 in conference and 3-14 overall.

“We had ups and downs in today’s game,” Hendrix said. “To force 31 turnovers says a lot about our defensive effort, but to have 18 turnovers is uncharacteristic for us. I just think we need to figure out how to be more consistent for 40 minutes and to play High Point basketball all the time.”

While the Panthers were causing chaos on the defensive end, junior Emma Bockrath recorded 15 points and three assists and shot 6-of-11 from the floor. Joining Bockrath in double figures, freshman Jiselle Thomas tallied 10 points and three steals off the bench.

The Purple & White overcame their 18 turnovers shooting 47.3 percent (26-of-55) from the floor while assisting on 13 of their 16 makes. On the other end, HPU recorded 13 steals and a season-high eight blocks while holding Longwood to a 31 percent mark.

Leading the charge on the defensive end redshirt-junior Kennedy Currie posted three pilfers and two blocks. Similarly, sophomore Olivia VanSlooten tied her career high with three blocks and set a season high with six points on the afternoon.

The win not only extends HPU’s winning streak to eight games, it’s also the 13th straight victory over Longwood – the longest stretch against any Big South foe in High Point history.

The Lancers earned a 33-28 edge in rebounds behind a double-double from Autumn Childress who posted 10 points and 11 boards in the loss.

Overall, nine Panther scored with senior Kat Harris posting eight points as the HPU bench scored half the team’s points on the day.

High Point opened the game with a full court press that forced Longwood into nine first-quarter turnovers as HPU built a 17-12 edge. In the second period, the Panthers aggressive defense held the Lancers without a basket for the first six minutes as they upped the lead to 11, 23-12, behind 10 points from Bockrath.

After Longwood broke the slump and the teams traded baskets, VanSlooten scored the final four points to send HPU to the break up 29-17.

After a 9-9 third quarter, Brown drilled a trifecta at the 7:55 mark of the fourth to up HPU’s lead to 13 at 43-30. That three-pointer started a 9-0 run, which gave HPU a 49-30 edge with 5:38 to play. From there, the Panther closed out their eighth straight victory, 62-41.

The Panthers are back in action on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. when they visit the league’s preseason favorite Radford.