Backcourt trio leads HPU WBB to 80-49 win at Longwood

• The backcourt trio of senior Kaylah Keys and sophomores Lindsey Edwards and Emma Bockrath combined for 49 points on 19-of-27 shooting on the night.
• Keys scored 19 points and hit 5-of-5 from beyond the arc to pass Jurica Hargraves and become High Point’s Division I leader in made trifectas.
• The Panthers set new season highs in assists (25) and three-pointers (12) in the contest.

FARMVILLE, Va. – Senior Kaylah Keys and sophomores Emma Bockrath and Lindsey Edwards combined for 49 points to pace the High Point University women’s basketball team to an 80-49 triumph at Longwood on Tuesday night.

The Panthers (7-13) jumped out to a 41-19 halftime lead and cruised to an 80-49 victory to move to 5-4 in Big South action on the year. Meanwhile, the Lancers (3-17, 0-9) remain winless in league play.

“The key tonight was our focus,” head coach DeUnna Hendrix said. “We really paid attention to the scouting report and stopped them the first five possessions while scoring on offense and that set the tone for the night. What has changed for us is that our offensive momentum is coming from our defense, so when we get stops we feel really good offensively.”

Leading the way, Keys posted 19 points on 5-of-5 shooting from behind the arc to pass Jurica Hargraves as HPU’s top career three-point shooter.

“Kaylah has been through a lot in her career and I’m just so proud of her,” Hendrix continued. “For her to stay level and come to every game with the intent to win and lead this young team is encouraging.”

From her wing spot, Bockrath did it all for the Purple & White. The Dayton, Ohio product tallied her third double-double of the year with 17 points and 10 rebounds to go with four assists.

Junior Kat Harris chipped in with four assists as well while Keys dished out a game-high six helpers as HPU was credited with 25 assists on 31 field goals. The 25 assists are the most on the year for the Panthers.

Meanwhile, Edwards added 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the floor.

On the glass, High Point dominated to the tune of a +16 margin (44-28) behind a game-best 11 rebounds from sophomore Shea Morgan.

It was a season-best night for the Purple & White as the squad hit 12-of-24 from beyond the arc (50 percent).

Overall, the team was 31-of-59 (52.5 percent) offensively while limiting the Lancers to just 33.3 percent shooting (19-of-57).

Behind a hot start from Keys, the Panthers posted two separate runs of at lead nine points in the first 10 minutes to build a 22-7 edge. The Memphis, Tenn. native scored seven points and dished out three assists in seven minutes in the frame.

But midway through the second period, the Lancers fought to within 10 at 29-19 (3:29). However, Keys hit two three’s and Bockrath and junior Bre Davis each drilled triples in the final three minutes to enter the break up 41-19.

Keys stayed hot after halftime opening the scoring with her fourth three of the night to make it 44-19 at the 8:41 mark. From there, the advantage swelled to 25 at 50-25 on a three by Bockrath. But again, the Lancers outscored the Panthers 13-6 over the final five minutes to enter the fourth quarter tailing, 59-41.

However, Bockrath opened the final period with a layup and Keys followed with her fifth triple to make it 66-41 with 8:30 to play. From there, Longwood wouldn’t get any closer as High Point closed out the 80-49 victory.

The Purple & White are back at home on Saturday to host UNC Asheville at 2 p.m. in the Millis Center on ESPN3. The contest is the first of a double-header with UNC Asheville as the High Point men host the Bulldogs at 7 p.m. that night.