LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The fourth-seeded High Point University women's lacrosse team continues its run to the Big South Championship Friday with a semifinal contest against top-seeded Winthrop in Rock Hill, S.C.
 
First draw between the Panthers and Eagles is scheduled for 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the Big South Network, with live stats also available by clicking here.
 
HPU is 6-0 all-time in the Big South Tournament and is 2-0 in conference championship games played away from the friendly confines of Vert Stadium. With a win Friday, HPU would become the only program in the Big South  to reach the conference title game in all three seasons of the conference's existence.
 
The Panthers advanced to the semifinals with a 14-9 win over No. 5 Longwood in quarterfinal action Tuesday. High Point (8-9) led 5-3 at the half, but used a 4-0 run over the first 1:23 of the second half to build a 9-3 advantage. The Lancers could not move closer than three (11-8) for the remainder of the game.
 
Junior Kristina Renner tied the school record with seven draws in the game and in the process, moved past current HPU assistant coach Grace Gaeng and into first place on HPU's all-time single season draws list (48).
 
Sophomore attack Samantha Brown put together a breakout performance to lead the Panther offense. The Basking Ridge, N.J., native tallied a career-best five goals, shattering her previous high of two. Brown posted the first two scores of HPU's second half run and added a pair of consecutive goals midway through the half when Longwood had cut the lead to three.
 
PRESSURE DEFENSE LEADS TO SUCCESS
HPU is averaging 8.53 caused turnovers per game and has enjoyed success when forcing its opponents to make miscues this season. The Panthers are 5-1 when they cause 10 or more opponent turnovers in a game, but just 3-8 when they cause less than 10 miscues.
 
HISTORY vs. WINTHROP
Friday's matchup marks the fifth all-time meeting between High Point and Winthrop in women's lacrosse. HPU has posted a 4-0 record against the Eagles, including a 1-0 mark in Rock Hill. The teams met this past Friday (April 24), when the Panthers posted a thrilling, 8-7 overtime victory on Senior Night inside Vert Stadium. Foard posted a hat trick to lead the Panthers in the victory, while senior goalkeeper Julia Burns made 14 saves in the cage.
 
A LOOK AT THE EAGLES (15-3, 6-1)
Winthrop captured the Big South regular season title and opened the conference tournament with a 21-5 win over No. 8 Presbyterian on Tuesday. Winthrop is led by Big South Offensive Player of the Year Jenna Kasmarik, who leads the league in goals/game (4.18) and points/game (4.47). Junior midfielder Shannon Gallagher is second on the team in points (70) and third in the league in goals/game (2.83). All-Big South First Team goalkeeper Alaina Girani leads the conference in goals against average (7.17) and save percentage (.514).
 
UP NEXT
With a victory, HPU would move on to Sunday's Big South Championship game at 1 p.m. in Rock Hill. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3. HPU would play the winner of the semifinal game between No. 2 Liberty and No. 3 Coastal Carolina.
 
#GoHPU