High Point University Women’s Basketball Falls in Big South Opener

Site: Buies Creek, N.C. (Gilbert Craig Gore Arena)
Score: Campbell 73, High Point 36
Records: CU: 6-4 (1-0 Big South), HPU: 2-8 (0-1 Big South)
Next HPU Event: Tuesday, Dec. 31 — at Winthrop (Rock Hill, S.C.) 2 p.m.

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The High Point University women’s basketball team had trouble finding its offensive stride in the conference opener, falling to Campbell University 73-36 Saturday afternoon (Dec. 8). Sophomore Skyler Curran led the team’s scoring with eight points, the first time this season that no Panthers scored double-digit points in a game.

High Point’s offense struggled out of the gate, shooting just 26.7% in the first quarter and trailing 24-10 after the first 10 minutes. Curran was the exception for the Panthers, going 3-3 in the first and having each of HPU’s first six points. It was the opposite story for Campbell, with the hosts shooting 60% in the opening quarter.

Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter, with neither scoring double-digits points. The Fighting Camels extended their lead by just one over the course of the period, leading 33-18 at the break. Campbell controlled the glass in the first half, grabbing twice as many rebounds as HPU, 27-13, with seven of the 27 coming on the offensive end. The teams were even in the paint in the first 20 minutes, with 16 of High Point’s 18 points coming in the lane, with a pair free throws from freshman Callie Scheier accounting for the others.

High Point finally made its first shot from behind the arc in the third when redshirt sophomore Zaria Wright drilled one from the corner right in front of the Purple and White bench. The third quarter ended up taking longer to play than expected, due to the lights inside the gym turning off with 4:01 left on the clock. After an eight-minute delay, the quarter was finished, with Campbell on top, 56-27.

Redshirt sophomore Danielle Deoul had a strong start to the final quarter, scoring the Panthers’ first five points of the fourth and grabbed two rebounds. She finished the game with seven points, one shy of her career-best in the UNCG game. The Fighting Camels extended their lead to stay perfect at home, taking the game 73-36 at the final buzzer.

High Point wraps up its road swing on Tuesday with a 2 p.m. New Year’s Eve contest at Winthrop. The Panthers return home for a pair of games at the Millis Center to open 2020, hosting USC Upstate on Jan. 4 and then Radford on Jan. 6.