High Point's women's basketball team opened its 2004-05 slate with a 76-74 win over in-state rival Campbell Friday evening in Buies Creek.

Katie O'Dell recorded a career-high 31 points to go along with 12 rebounds, four steals, and two assists to lead HPU (1-0). Charlena Martin had 16 points and three assists, while Katie Ralls added eight points, six rebounds, and six assists.

Ralls hit a pair of free throws with 26 seconds left to give the Panthers a 76-72 lead, and after Jennifer Lodge pulled the Camels within 76-74 on a jumper with six seconds left, Letitia Dickson fouled Martin to send her to the line. Martin missed the front end of the one-and-one and Campbell pulled down the rebound, but was unable to get a shot off before time expired.

Jennifer Martin led the Camels (0-1) with a double-double, scoring a career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds. Lodge added 21 points and six rebounds, while Tomika Tomlinson recorded a career-high 18 points.  Martin, Lodge and Tomlinson combined to score 61 of Campbell's 74 points.

HPU (1-0) fell into an 11-0 hole to begin the game, but rattled off 20 of the next 28 points to surge in front.

The Panthers continued their streak and took a 37-34 advantage to the locker room. O'Dell led HPU in the opening frame, tying an old career-high with 20 points before halftime.

Tomlinson led the Camels out of the break by tying the game at 37-37 with her second trey of the contest.  The Panthers followed with a 13-6 run to grab their largest lead of the night (50-43). Campbell answered with a 14-6 streak of its own, capped off by another Tomlinson trey to re-grab the lead 57-56.

Chan Ingram added on a pair of free throws to give High Point the lead 58-57. The Panthers held the advantage for the next five minutes until the Lady Camels tied things at 72-72 on a pair of free throws by Dickson. Candyce Sellars responded with a bucket with 1:14 remaining to give High Point the lead for good.

High Point shot 39 percent from the floor (27-70) and 35 percent from behind the three-point arc (7-20).

Campbell shot 45 percent from the floor (23-51) and 71 percent from the charity stripe (23-32).  However, the Lady Camels turned the ball over 23 times, while the Panthers had only 12 miscues.  CU held the edge on the glass 43-40, but was out-rebounded by the Panthers 19-11 on the offensive side.

The Panthers will play their first home game Monday night against Queens. Tip-off in the Millis Center is set for 7:00 pm. Fans bringing a new, unwrapped toy for Fox 8's Gifts For Kids program will receive $2 off a game ticket for the Monday night game in the Millis Center.

For more information, call (336) 841-4645. HPU student-athletes will present the toys live Dec. 8 on the Fox 8 Morning Show.