Box Score BOX SCORE

The High Point University women's basketball team dropped a tight 58-57 decision to Liberty on Saturday night in Lynchburg Va., as sophomore Erin Reynolds layup attempt was blocked by Devon Brown with just one second remaining.

Trailing by one with 12 seconds left in the game, Reynolds brought the ball up the court and ran off two picks to get what looked like an open layup attempt but Brown came off the weak side to block away the potential game winner and secure the win.

“This is the most proud I have been of this team all season,” head coach Tooey Loy said. “We just kept battling all night and our defense did a great job keeping us in the game. We struggled to shoot the ball and missed a lot of three pointers and when you do that against Liberty you usually lose by 20. We were a layup away from winning tonight. Erin had a good look, but Brown was able to get over and block it.”

Freshman Cheyenne Parker tied her career high with 19 points to lead High Point in scoring for the second straight game. The freshman center also grabbed six rebounds to lead the Panthers. Liberty's Avery Warley posted a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Flames.

High Point falls to 10-12 overall and 4-5 in the Big South with the loss while Liberty moves into sole possession of first place in the Big South with a 14-8 overall record and an 8-1 mark in the Big South.

The two teams were even with just under 13 minutes left in the first half at 12-12 but the Flames began to pull away over the next 10 minutes, outscoring High Point, 16-7 to take a nine-point lead at 28-19. The Panthers struggled shooting the ball during the stretch going 3-13 from the floor and missing nine-straight from behind the arc. Parker came off the bench to score all seven of High Point's points during the Flames' run to keep the Panthers in the game.

Reynolds hit back-to-back baskets to pull HPU to within five with 1:08 left in the half before a basket in the paint by Kylie Beecher gave Liberty a 30-23 lead at the half. Parker led High Point with seven points in the half while Liberty's Devon Brown and Avery Warley each had eight to lead LU. The Flames dominated the paint in the first half, outscoring High Point, 20-6, and outrebounding the Panthers, 25-15.

HPU weathered an early run by Liberty to start the second half and with 7:08 left in the contest a short jumper by senior LaTeisha Dean capped a 14-4 run by HPU to tie the game at 47-47. Parker played a big role in the surge for the Panthers with eight of High Point's 14 points.

The Panthers took their first lead of the game with 5:00 minutes left in the contest when senior Amy Dodd hit both ends of a one and one to put HPU up, 49-48. The lead would swing back and forth between the two squads until back-to-back baskets by Avery Warley put the Flames up three, 58-55, with 1:12 left in the contest.

Down three the Panthers again went to Parker who managed to get free in the lane off a pick and roll and laid the ball in to bring HPU to within one, 58-57, with 44 seconds remaining. The High Point defense settled in needing a stop to have a chance to win and stymied the LU offense, forcing a shot clock violation and getting the ball back with 12 seconds remaining.

After starting 3-6 from three-point range, High Point went ice cold from behind the arc, shooting 0-17 the rest of the game. The Panther defense helped keep HPU in the game by forcing 18 turnovers.

Senior Amy Dodd was the only High Point player to join Parker in double figures with 14 points. Senior Mackenzie Maier led HPU in assists for the second straight game with five on the night.

High Point returns to action in one week when the Panthers will host Charleston Southern at the Millis Center at 4 p.m., in the team's Think Pink game. HPU lost its last game against the Lady Buccaneers by a score of 80-72 in Charleston, S.C., on Jan. 31. Parker picked up a double-double against CSU with a team-best 15 points and 14 rebounds in the loss.