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Postgame with Tooey Loy

The High Point University women's basketball team dropped a 67-56 decision to Gardner-Webb to fall to 10-7 overall and 3-1 in the Big South Monday night in Boiling Springs, N.C. Freshman Erin Reynolds scored 14 points for the Panthers in the loss.

“Defensively we gave up way to many drives to the basket,” said head coach Tooey Loy. “Help side defense wasn't there and on the ball we were just a step slow tonight. I don't know how much of that is fatigue from Saturday, but we just weren't a quick team tonight defensively and we need to be if we are going to be a real good team.”

Gardner-Webb took the early advantage in the contest, outscoring High Point 14-4 to start the game. The Panthers struggled from the field in the opening minutes, shooting just 2-11 while GWU shot 7-12.

An old-fashioned three-point play by junior Amy Dodd ended the Gardner-Webb run and cut the Lady Bulldogs' lead to seven, 14-7 with just over 12 minutes left in the half. Dodd grabbed a defensive rebound and drove coast-to-coast for the lay-up and the foul.

HPU continued to trim the Gardner-Webb advantage with a 6-2 run, making the score 16-13 with eight minutes left in the period. Junior Jurica Hargraves scored four points during the run with a three from the left side and a free throw.

A 9-4 run by GWU pushed the lead back to eight, 25-17, with just under four minutes in the half but a lay-up by junior Frances Fields and a lay-up and free throw by Hargraves pulled the Panthers back to within three, 25-22, with two and a half minutes remaining in the half.

After a jumper by Gardner-Webb's Courtney Epps pushed the lead to 5, 27-22, a three by Hargraves and two free throws by Reynolds tied the game at 27 with 32 seconds left. The Lady Bulldogs then took the clock down to five seconds before GWU's Dominique Hudson hit a jumper from just inside the free throw line to give Gardner-Webb the 29-27 halftime lead.

Hargraves led all scorers with 10 points at the break for HPU while Hudson scored nine to pace the Lady Bulldogs.

GWU seized the advantage out of the break, outscoring High Point 18-5 in the first seven minutes of the second half to take a 45-32 lead. HPU's continued to struggle from the field, shooting 1-10 to open the second half.

High Point managed to trim the deficit to just eight, 47-39 with less than 11 minutes remaining on a short jumper by junior Mackenzie Maier but a 12-3 run by GWU gave the Lady Bulldogs a 17-point lead with 5:30 remaining in the contest.

The Panthers refused to go away as a straightaway three by Maier and a runner in the lane by Reynolds sparked a late 16-5 run by HPU, making the score 62-55 with 2:37 remaining in the contest. That was as close as High Point would get though as the Lady Bulldogs held on for the 67-56 win.

Maier finished with 12 points for the Panthers to go along with a team-best seven rebounds and two blocks while Hargraves added 10 points. As a team, HPU struggled on the offensive end, shooting just 31.1 percent (19-61) from the floor.

Hudson led all scorers with 21 points for Gardner-Webb which improves to 14-3 overall and 3-1 in the Big South.

High Point returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 16, when the Panthers host Winthrop in Big South action. Tip-off at the Millis Center is set for 7 p.m.