BOX SCORE

The High Point University women's basketball team dropped a hard fought 62-55 decision to Idaho State in the final day of the University of Texas-El Paso Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday afternoon in El Paso, Texas. Senior Mackenzie Maier posted her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

“This game could have gone either way but we just didn't make the plays down the stretch,” head coach Tooey Loy said. “Give Idaho State credit, they made all the plays necessary to win the game. We had good looks but just couldn't make the shots. We got to get back into the gym and get to work to get better before Big South play gets here.”

The two teams traded baskets early, but two free throws by sophomore Erin Reynolds and a lay-up by senior Amy Dodd gave HPU an 8-7 lead four minutes into the contest.

After a hot start from both teams to start the game both teams struggled to score over the next 10 minutes and with five minutes left in the half the score was tied 19-19. High Point held the Bengals to just 33 percent shooting (8-24) from the floor but had 10 turnovers on the offensive end.

Idaho State closed the first half on a 6-0 run to take a 30-25 lead in to the locker rooms. Maier led HPU with nine points at the break while freshman Cheyenne Parker had four points and a game-best seven rebounds. Idaho State's Kaela Okaes led all scorers in the half with 14 points.

High Point came out fast in the second half, scoring four quick points forcing Idaho State to call a timeout just 41 seconds into the period. Dodd scored on a put back and senior Frances Fields hit an 18-foot jumper to pull within one at 30-29.

Idaho State pushed the lead back to five at 36-31 but a Fields free throw and five-straight points from Reynolds gave High Point its first lead of the half, 37-36, with a little over 15 minutes left in the game. Reynolds connected on a runner from the right side and then had an old-fashioned three with a lay-up and free throw to give HPU the lead.

The lead swung back and forth between the two teams five times over the next 12 minutes with neither team able to build an advantage larger than three points. With two minutes left in the game Dodd tied the game for the ninth time with a three from the right elbow to even the score at 51-51.

The Panthers could not reclaim the lead in the final minutes as Idaho State jumped back ahead on two Oaks free throws and outscored HPU, 11-4, down the stretch, hitting six of eight free throws to secure the 62-55 win.

Dodd led all HPU scorers with 13 points and Fields chipped in with 10 points in the loss. High Point struggled in holding onto the ball with 23 turnovers in the game.

Oaks led all scorers in the game with 27 points for Idaho State while Chelsea Pickering added 16 for the Bengals.

With the loss, High Point falls to 3-4 on the season while Idaho State improves to 4-4.

The Panthers continue their seven game road trip on Wednesday, Dec. 1, when they return to North Carolina to play Campbell in Buies Creek, N.C. High Point beat the Camels, 78-57 last season in the Millis Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.