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HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women's basketball team tips off the 2016-17 season against Ohio University in the Millis Center on Sunday at 2 p.m.
 
The Panthers are coming off a 12-19 season, but return four starters and 95 percent of their scoring from 2015-16. Meanwhile, the Bobcats posted a 26-7 record and two wins in the WNIT last year.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Purple & White earned a 74-57 exhibition victory over the Lenoir-Rhyne Bears on Nov. 2 in the Millis Center.
 
• Sophomore Emma Bockrath led HPU in points (18), rebounds (9), assists (5) and steals (3) in the contest.
 
• Sophomore Haleigh Hatfield was the team's other double-digit scorer posting 11 points on the strength of a trio of three-pointers.
 
• Outside of Bockrath and Hatfield, nine different players scored for HPU led by junior Kat Harris' nine points in the contest.
 
• The opportunistic defense racked up 13 steals and forced 17 turnovers while only committing eight miscues on the offensive end.
 
SCOUTING OHIO
• The Bobcats are the preseason favorite to repeat as the MAC East Champions after posting a 53-12 record over the past two seasons.
 
• Quiera Lampkins is a preseason All-MAC First Team selection after earning MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2015-16. The senior is the team's top returning scorer after tallying 14.8 points per contest last season.
 
• Fellow seniors Jasmine Weatherspoon and Yamonie Jenkins represent the squad's other two returning starters. Weatherspoon was OU's top rebounder (6.7 rpg) and shot-blocker (56) last year while Jenkins is the leading returner in assists (3.0 apg).
 
• Ten Bobcats saw double-digit minutes in the team's exhibition win over Thomas More with all 10 players posting at least one made field goal.
 
SERIES HISTORY
• The Bobcats won the only meeting between the two programs on Dec. 29, 2006. The Panthers are 0-2 all-time against the Mid-American Conference including a setback against Bowling Green in the 2014 WNIT.
 
GAME NOTES
• Senior Kaylah Keys is 102 points from tying Shamia Brown for HPU's Division I scoring record. She also is within striking distance of breaking the D-I record for three-pointers and free throws made.
 
• High Point returns four starters and a large percentage of every major statistical category from last year:
            • Scoring: 1,919 of 2,015 (95 percent)
            • Rebounding: 983 of 1,109 (89 percent)
            • Assists: 361 of 374 (96 percent)
            • Steals: 229 of 251 (91 percent)
            • Three-Pointers: 171 of 171 (100 percent)
            • Minutes: 5,764 of 6,240 (92 percent)
 
• Keys was named to the Preseason All-Big South First Team for the third straight season. Meanwhile, Bockrath garnered second team accolades.
 
• High Point led the Big South and was 30th nationally in free throw percentage during the 2015-16 season (.749). Likewise, Harris paced the conference with a .830 shooting percentage at the charity stripe.
 
• The Panthers are 8-9 in their 17 season opening contests since joining the Division I ranks, but has won five straight openers:
            • 2015-16: Greensboro College – 82-49
            • 2014-15: Brevard College – 72-65
            • 2013-14: Newberry College – 93-64
            • 2012-13: East Tennessee State – 85-76
            • 2011-12: Virginia Commonwealth – 82-67
 
NEXT UP
The Purple & White will be back in action in the Millis Center on Thursday, Nov. 17 against Brevard College at 7 p.m.
 
#GoHPU