The High Point University women's basketball team fell to Big South rival UNC Asheville, 72-69 tonight in the Justice Center.

Senior Katie Ralls recorded 15 points tonight to tie her career high and lead the Panthers (8-8, 1-1). Caitlin Thys connected for 14 while Candyce Sellars scored 12.

For the Bulldogs (11-6, 2-0) Amanda Elder had a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead the team. Stacy Shepard scored 13 while Ashton Barton connected for 12 points.

In typical rival fashion tonight's game was a battle from the opening tip until the final buzzer. Asheville got on the board first to open the game with a lay up from Elder. Thys responded on the other end in the same manner for the first of seven ties in the game. A pair of made free throws on the Bulldogs end followed by a lay-up gave UNCA a four point lead before Leslie Cook responded with a three pointer. The Bulldogs would go on a bit of a run to take an eight point advantage at 10:24, outscoring HPU 13-6 over a three minute stretch. Ayonna Thompson nailed a jumper to pull the Panthers within six but Asheville would go on another run to give the Bulldogs a 12 point lead with 5:09 left in the opening period.  High Point would close out with a run of their own sparked by back-to-back baskets from Ralls to pull within six (38-32) going into the break.

Coming out of the intermission HPU went on a small 6-1 run highlighted by back-to-back baskets from Thys to give the Panthers their first lead of the game, 40-39, at the 17:53 mark. Elder hit a free throw to tie the game for the fourth time at 16:48. Sellars would respond with back-to-back three pointers to pull the Panthers ahead by two (46-44) with just over 14 minutes left. The Bulldogs responded with back-to-back baskets to retake the lead before Cook hit a three pointer to pull HPU back into the lead (51-48) with 10:28 remaining in the half. That would prove to be the final lead for the Panthers during the game as Barton nailed a three pointers just a few seconds later to give the Bulldogs the lead for good. HPU would pull within one (66-65) with 1:38 remaining in the game when Ralls was fouled on a made lay-up and set up the three point play. Elder would make 6-of-8 free throws in the final minute to give Asheville a three point lead with five seconds left. The Panthers would get possession but were unable to get a shot off as the clock was winding down.

"It is always a close game between us and Asheville," said High Point head coach Tooey Loy. "We played really hard tonight and with a lot of intensity, we just had trouble holding onto the ball and that was what really hurt us tonight."

Asheville held the advantage on the boards, outrebounding HPU, 47-34. UNCA scored 25 points off of turnovers to the 10 scored by High Point. The Bulldogs also held the slight advantaged in the paint with 35 points to the Panthers' 29.

The Panthers return to the court on Saturday, Jan. 20 when they host Big South foe and defending conference champion Liberty. Game time is set for 4 p.m.