Site: Palm Beach State College (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
Score: High Point 50, Florida Gulf Coast 86
Records: High Point (3-8), Florida Gulf Coast (11-1)
 
The High Point University women's basketball team closed out non-conference play at the West Palm Beach Invitational. The Panthers dropped an 86-50 contest to Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday afternoon. Jaden Wrightsell led the Panthers with 11 points while Jenson Edwards and Callie Scheier chipped in seven points each. Nakyah Terrell pulled down seven boards for HPU.
 
Panther Particulars
The Eagles opened the game on a 9-0 run, forcing a Panther timeout. Jaden Wrightsell worked her way inside for a pair of layups to lead HPU in first quarter scoring.

@its_jaadenjaay takes it to the hole for our first field goal.#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/As8ewhvg9o

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) December 21, 2021

 
Freshman Nakyah Terrell closed out the first quarter with a fast break layup, but HPU still trailed 22-9 after one period.

@Nakyah_T takes it down the floor for 2!#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/Vdm5EN0TrC

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) December 21, 2021

 
Wrightsell kept working on the offensive end, opening the second quarter with another layup and continued pushing to the basket, leading HPU with eight points in the half. Callie Scheier got in on the action with her first three-pointer of the day.

@its_jaadenjaay gets her own rebound and gets the put back to go#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/Kz9Ziak1Mm

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) December 21, 2021

 
Cydney Johnson got a key block and passed the ball up the floor to Terrell who capitalized on a floater in the lane, but FGCU continued stifling defense and used a 10-2 run at the end of the second period to take a 23-point lead into the halftime break.
 
HPU started the second half with back-to-back three-point plays from Wrightsell and Jenson Edwards, both finding layups and converting at the free throw line. But FGCU would continue to slowly extend their lead, holding a 69–37 advantage with one period to play.

AND 1! @its_jaadenjaay gets the 3-point play at the free throw line#GoHPU pic.twitter.com/ymQWVKOR57

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) December 21, 2021

 
Both offenses slowed in the fourth quarter, HPU's only points through the first five minutes of the period came from a Scheier 15-foot jumper. Shakira Baskerville hit a layup under the basket with four minutes left before Scheier capitalized on open space and hit another deep jump shot.

Jumper for @CallieScheier! #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/afMVkYVSxT

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) December 21, 2021

 
Next Up: High Point will take a short break for the Christmas holiday and be back in action on Wednesday, December 29^th. The Panthers meet Gardner-Webb in Qubein Arena to kick off conference play. Tip is set for 7:00 p.m.