Box Score BOX SCORE

Junior Frances Fields dribbled down three-quarters of the floor and hit a six-foot floater with less than one second left to give the High Point University women's basketball team a 67-66 win over UNC Wilmington Saturday night in High Point, N.C. Fields tied her career-best with 17 points in the game to lead all scorers. 

Trailing by one, 66-65, with just six seconds remaining in the game, Fields took the ball at her own free throw line and dribbled down the court towards the right baseline before lofting a running jump shot with three hands in her face. The ball fell through the net with less than a second remaining to give High Point the 67-66 lead.

"What a basketball game Frances played," said head coach Tooey Loy. "A year ago I am not sure that she would have taken that shot, she would have looked for someone to pass it to. She just made the right play. Our plan was for her to penetrate and read the defense and she read it perfectly. She took the seam and made a great six-footer from the baseline to win the game. This is a huge step for Frances and her confidence late in games."

A last second heave by the Seahawks was snagged by sophomore Shamia Brown to secure the win for High Point. The Panthers improved to 4-5 while UNCW fell to 2-4.

The Seahawks took the early lead, jumping up 7-0 to start the game. Forward Brittany Blackwell scored five early points on a three pointer and two free throws. Junior Amy Dodd scored the Panthers' first points of the game with a jumper to make the score 7-2.

Trailing 13-4, freshman Erin Reynolds and junior Jurica Hargraves combined to score 10 straight points to give High Point its first lead of the game, 14-13, with 12 minutes left in the half. Reynolds scored five straight on a short jumper and a straightaway three pointer and Hargraves followed her with a three of her own from the left elbow and two free throws.

High Point continued to gradually increase its lead and with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half, Fields drove the lane for a layup and a foul. She converted on the free throw for an old-fashioned three-point play, giving High Point its largest lead to that point, 26-20.

The Seahawks managed to pull to within two on three separate occasions but HPU refused to cede the lead, taking a 38-36 advantage into the locker room. Hargraves led all Panthers' scorers with eight points at the break. Reynolds and junior Mackenzie Maier each added seven points. Blackwell had 10 points and seven rebounds to lead the Seahawks.

HPU began the second half on a 6-2 run with baskets by Maier, Fields and senior Ashlee' Samuels, forcing UNCW to call an early timeout. The Panthers forced two turnovers during the run. UNC Wilmington responded out of the timeout with a 9-2 run of its own to take a one point lead, 47-46, with 13:12 remaining in the game.

The lead swung back and forth between the two teams 10 different times over the final 13 minutes before Fields scored to give High Point the win. Neither team was able to open a lead larger than four points during the entire stretch.

"It was a great basketball game," said Loy. "Both teams made big shots, both teams executed when they needed to and came down to the last 0.9 seconds. We are happy with the win. We have a week off and we need to concentrate on academics and taking care of exams now. We look forward to playing at home again against Longwood on Friday." 

Maier finished the game with 13 points while Dodd added nine points, seven rebounds, a team-best six assists and two steals. Brown grabbed a season-best 11 rebounds to lead HPU.

Blackwell led UNC Wilmington with 15 points and a game-best 13 rebounds.

The Panthers conclude their three-game home stand on Friday, Dec. 18 when they host Longwood University. The game against the Lancers is scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m.