BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball team surged past Campbell in the second half for a 76-62 win on Saturday at Gore Arena in Buies Creek, N.C. Junior Ashante Richard posted career highs in points and assists in her first career start.
Freshman Kaylah Keys led the Panthers with 24 points and redshirt-junior Stacia Robertson posted her second double-double in a row with 11 points and 14 rebounds. She also grabbed four steals. Richard finished with six points and six assists.
“We made some really good adjustments at halftime,” said head coach DeUnna Hendrix. “Most importantly we played as a unit for the final 20 minutes and when we do that we are a very good basketball team. It was very important to have players like Ashante Richard and Maja Michalska step and give us important minutes.”
High Point improves to 7-7 overall and 3-2 in Big South Conference play. Campbell drops to 8-5 overall and 3-2 in league play.
Michalska came off the bench and scored five quick points to swing the lead in HPU’s favor 18-17 with 7:47 to play in the opening half. It was one of 15 lead changes in the half. Campbell took the lead back on an old-fashioned three-point play from Casey Elliot that put the Camels ahead 20-18. With 5:14 to play Michalska grabbed a defensive rebound and dished the ball ahead for Lexi Patterson who drained a three pointer to give HPU a 24-22 lead. The half was tied 28-28 with less than a minute to play when Janelle Brown was fouled by Jatzmin Johnson. She made both free throws to give Campbell a 30-28 lead at the break.
Keys scored the first basket of the second half to tie the game 30-30 and spark a 6-0 Panther run. Robertson scored to give HPU a 34-30 lead they would hold for the remainder of the game. DeAnneisha Jackson completed a three-point play with 13:36 to play to push High Point’s lead to 10, 48-38. Keys extended the lead to 15, 64-49, with a three pointer with 6:56 to go. The Panthers easily maintained the lead and went on to win 76-62. High Point outrebounded Campbell 20-7 in the second half.
Jackson finished with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting and four rebounds. Freshman Teddy Vincent added eight points and Michalska tied her career high with seven points while contributing three assists.
Elliott finished with 14 points to lead the Camels and Roslyn Presley added 13 points. Kiera Gaines chipped in 12 points.
High Point returns to the Millis Center on Jan. 9 to face Presbyterian College. The Big South Conference game will begin at 7 p.m. The Panthers are 10-1 all-time against PC.