Site: Keiser University (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
Score: High Point 64, Dayton 71
Records: High Point (3-7), Dayton (7-3)
 
The High Point University women's basketball team dropped a 71-64 ballgame to Dayton in day one action of the West Palm Beach Invitational. All five starters scored in double digits for the first time since December 7, 2020, in a game against North Carolina Central.
 
Jaden Wrightsell led Panther scorers with 15 points while Cydney Johnson added 12 points and Jenson Edwards, Callie Scheier, and Nakyah Terrell each chipped in 11 points. Wrightsell and Edwards each pulled down six boards.
 
Panther Particulars
Jenson Edwards got the offense rolling with a jumper as the shot clock was winding down in one of HPU's first posessions. Jaden Wrightsell's three-pointer gave HPU the early 5-1 lead, but Dayton would counter with their own 10-2 run mid-first quarter go take an 13-7 lead with 5:46 remaining.
 

Jaden hits our first triple of the day! HPU up 5-4 with 7:33 left.#H3U x #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/EKIUlp0BbI

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) December 20, 2021

 
A Callie Scheier jumper brought the Panthers back within 13-9 before the media timeout before Nakyah Terrell hit Scheier for another triple in transition to get back within three points. Terrell ended the first quarter with a three pointer with seconds left on the clock, pulling within 18-15. 
 

The 3! @Nakyah_T hits the triple to end the first quarter. Panthers trail Dayton, 18-15.#H3U x #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/RGi8jYHIIY

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) December 20, 2021

 
Terrell and Jenson Edwards capitalized on layup opportunities on back-to-back possessions early in the second quarter that helped HPU pull within 24-19.
 
A Cydney Johnson layup and three-pointer and a Jordan Edwards layup closed the gap to three points at 29-26, but the Flyers closed out the quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 38-26 lead into halftime.
 

H3U! @cydneyyyy4 hits the 3 and we're within 29-26.#H3U pic.twitter.com/jY4IetGxFa

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) December 20, 2021

 
HPU came out of the break ready to roll as the opened the second half on a 12-2 scoring run. Balanced scoring helped the Panthers, as Cydney Johnson hit a three-pointer before Jaden Wrightsell added a triple of her own.
 
The Flyers would hit a jump shot in the paint, but Callie Scheier and Jenson Edwards each capitalized on and-1 layups and free throws on back-to-back possessions.
 

Back-to-back AND-1s from @CallieScheier and @Jenson_edwards and we're back within 40-37!!!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/bEaNRa4lyV

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) December 20, 2021

 
HPU took its first lead since early in the first quarter on a Callie Scheier three-pointer to give the Panthers the 48-45 advantage. Dayton went on their own 8-0 run to secure the lead back, taking a 55-50 lead into the final period.
 

TIE BALLGAME. #H3U pic.twitter.com/n9oqnmlO8E

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) December 20, 2021

 
Despite back-and-forth plays, the Flyers kept a safe five-point lead over HPU for the remainder of the contest. Jaden Wrightsell, Cydney Johnson, and Nakyah Terrell each contributed four points in the final frame.
 

The atmosphere in here is ???? @HPUWBB x @DaytonWBB #Ridethewave???? pic.twitter.com/2mNlSm6WSa

— Destination Basketball (@dest_basketball) December 20, 2021

 
Up Next: HPU will take on Florida Gulf Coast tomorrow in day two of the West Palm Beach Invitational at 1:15 p.m.