Box Score BOX SCORE

The High Point University women's basketball team got 14 points and 11 rebounds from Mackenzie Maier (Charleston, W.Va./Charleston Catholic) and 12 points from Amy Dodd (Apex, N.C./Apex) but took a 70-67 overtime loss to Navy in its season opener on Friday in Elon, N.C. HPU held a 67-66 lead before Navy hit four free throws to finish the game.

"It was a tough battle for both teams," said head coach Tooey Loy. "We struggled offensively in the first half. I don't know if it was first-game jitters, but we settled down in the second half and had several opportunities to put it away. It was the same in overtime, we had opportunities. But if we get this same effort every time out we're going to be fine."

It was also the season opener for Navy, which improved to 1-0 while HPU fell to 0-1. It was HPU's first overtime loss since Jan. 21, 2004.

The Panthers' deep bench was on display in the first half, as 11 players got into the game for HPU. High Point was at an early deficit with both teams turning the ball over 10 times in the first half. Play picked up and HPU gained its first lead at 16:20 when Maier drained a pair of free throws. Dodd was High Point's first-half scoring leader with eight points, including one 3-pointer. The Panthers were down 29-26 at halftime.

HPU inched back toward the lead early in the second half. Shamia Brown (Raeford, N.C./Hoke County) started a fast break with a rebound and Dodd finished it with a layup to tie the score at 36-36 at 7:44. Jurica Hargraves (Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill) gave the Panthers the lead with a pair of free throws shortly after. A Maier 3-pointer gave HPU a 46-40 lead before Navy came back to make it 50-49 on a layup by K.C. Gordon.

Navy maintained a small lead until Maier drained another 3-pointer to make it 56-54 with under three minutes to go in regulation. After Navy's Cassie Consedine tied it up again with a layup, Maier hit a jumper for a 58-56 HPU lead.

With just over a minute to go in regulation, Brown won a battle for the ball and passed it to LaTeisha Dean (Virginia Beach, Va./Green Run), who ran the court and scored on a layup to make it 60-58 HPU. Navy's Angela Myers hit a layup to make it 60-60 with under a minute to go. After a Dodd steal, HPU had the ball in the closing seconds of regulation, but Hargraves' 3-point attempt at the buzzer went off the rim and the game went into overtime.

Navy opened the overtime period with a four-point play by Myers. HPU battled back and took the lead when Brown stole the ball and went all the way to make it 67-66 in favor of HPU. Navy closed the door after that, as Myers and Jasmine Pitts each hit a pair of free throws to make the final 70-67.

Consedine led with 22 points and 14 rebounds and Myers scored 19 points for Navy.

Maier's double-double came on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor, including 2-for-2 on 3-pointers. Brown scored nine points and had seven rebounds, including five offensive rebounds. Brown led HPU with four steals in the game.

High Point University seeks its first win on Saturday when it plays Youngstown State in the Phoenix Classic at 7 p.m. in Elon, N.C.