Meribeth Anderson scored 21 points and pulled down 16 rebounds to help Liberty down High Point, 71-53, Wednesday night in a battle for first place in Big South women's basketball.

The Panthers (11-6, 3-2 Big South) lost for the first time in eight appearances in the Millis Center this season.

Liberty (13-3, 5-0) won its ninth-straight contest and remained unbeaten in league play.

The Lady Flames led 15-4 early, but HPU battled back and tied the game at 23-23 on two Kate Jenner free throws with 7:03 to go before halftime. Liberty then closed the half on a 20-9 run to take a 43-32 advantage to the locker room.

Misty Brockman scored 17 points -- all before halftime -- for the Panthers.

The Lady Flames opened the second half the same way they began the first. Liberty outscored the Panthers 14-2 during the opening eight minutes of the second half to take HPU out of it.

Freshman Tekita Butler joined Anderson in double figures for Liberty with 12 points. The taller Lady Flames outrebounded the Panthers, 59-41.

Cebronica Scott added 12 points for HPU.

High Point renews the cross-Piedmont Triad rivalry with Elon Saturday afternoon (1:00 pm tip) at Elon's Koury Center. The Panthers swept both meetings with the Phoenix last season.

The game will be broadcast live on WIST (98.3-FM in High Point) and over the Internet at highpointpanthers.com.