* Junior Kaylah Keys scored 14 points to lead the Panthers and moved past Mackenzie Maier for sixth on HPU’s Division I scoring list (1,120 points).
* Freshman Emma Bockrath tallied 12 points, three rebounds and two steals in the contest.
* High Point continues play in the Cancun Challenge at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow against Georgia Tech.
CANCUN, Mexico – The High Point University women’s basketball team fell to UAB 56-46 in its first game at the 2015 Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya on Thursday afternoon.
The Panthers (1-5) pulled within three points of the Blazers (2-3) with nine minutes remaining, but couldn’t get any closer as UAB earned a 10-point victory.
“Our offense can’t look timid and right now we look that way in the third and fourth quarters,” head coach DeUnna Hendrix said. “We have talented offensive players and right now we just aren’t playing with confidence and letting it fly. Our defense was pretty good, but we allowed far too many offensive rebounds.”
Junior Kaylah Keys recorded 14 points to move past Mackenzie Maier for sixth on HPU’s Division I scoring list. The Southaven, Miss. native has scored 1,120 points in 2-plus seasons for the Purple & White.
Meanwhile, freshman Emma Bockrath posted 12 points, three rebounds and two steals. Behind seven points from freshman Lindsey Edwards, the Panthers’ bench outscored UAB’s 16-8.
Freshman Haleigh Hatfield grabbed five boards to pace High Point as UAB earned a +11 (41-30) margin on the glass. Both teams shot 19-of-56 (36.5 percent) on the afternoon as a 15-8 edge in second-chance points was the difference for the Blazers.
Keys and sophomore Kat Harris scored on the first two possessions as the Panthers leaped out to a 4-2 lead (8:45). However, the Blazers responded with a 15-2 run over the next six minutes to build a 17-6 advantage. Edwards snapped the run with a layup (17-9, 2:45), but HPU couldn’t get closer as UAB took a 22-14 lead into the second quarter.
The Blazers’ advantage grew to nine on a 3-pointer by Chelsee Black (25-16, 8:56). However, behind six points from Bockrath, the Panthers pulled within three (29-26, 1:09) before a late basket gave UAB a 31-26 edge at the break.
Keys opened the scoring out of the break before Bockrath knotted the score a 31-all with a 3-pointer at the 8:12 mark. But the Blazers posted an 11-3 run over the next 5:50 to build a 42-34 lead before Keys drilled a 3-pointer from the left wing (42-37, 2:15). Edwards, then, drilled a jumper to make it 45-39 with 50 seconds left to send HPU to the fourth quarter tailing by six.
Freshman Shea Morgan converted a 3-point play 50 seconds into the final frame off a beautiful bounce pass from senior Aariel Allen to cut UAB’s lead to three (45-42, 9:10). But the Blazers defense took control and held HPU to four points the rest of the way to take the 56-46 victory.
HPU will be right back on the court at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya on Friday when it takes on Georgia Tech at 6:30 p.m. The Yellow Jackets are the Purple & White’s third power-5 opponent of the season.