Site: G.B. Hodge Center (Spartanburg, S.C.)
Score: High Point 83, USC Upstate 73
Records: High Point (4-9, 1-1), USC Upstate (9-4, 1-1)
 
The High Point University women's basketball team used 17 three-pointers and timely free throw shooting to pick up an 83-73 win over USC Upstate to improve to 1-1 in Big South play. Callie Scheier led the way as she tied a career-high 23 points and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe while Cydney Johnson chipped in 16 points. Claire Wyatt pulled down 11 rebounds and Jenson Edwards dished out five assists.
 
Coach Chelsea Banbury: "I'm really proud of how our girls came out and played. Upstate has been playing really well this year, they're a good basketball team, and our girls came off of this break they had and they competed to the end. We finally shot the ball well tonight, and Callie (Scheier) was knocking down threes and everybody had the confidence, so I'm really happy and proud of our girls and how they came out.
 
Panther Particulars
HPU found success from beyond the arc early in the game. Upstate opened the game on a 6-2 run before Claire Wyatt hit a three-pointer and made a free throw on back-to-back possessions to tie the game. Callie Scheier hit two triples in the first five minutes to give the Panthers a 12-10 lead at the first quarter media timeout.

ANOTHA ONE! @jenson_edwards drives down the floor and finds @CallieScheier wide open in the corner. HPU leads 12-10 with 4:23 left in the 1st.#GoHPU x #H3U pic.twitter.com/7rOTBApqB0

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) January 12, 2022

 
Jaden Wrightsell came off the bench hot and hit two triples of her own to give the Panthers a 20-17 lead as they closed out the first period.

Let's gooooooo!!! @its_jaadenjaay with two 3s in the first quarter to give us the 20-14 lead!#H3U x #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/NDHXCfz8mK

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) January 12, 2022

 
In the second quarter, Courtney Meadows and Scheier hit from behind the arc on back-to-back possessions to take back a 28-25 lead. A Cydney Johnson triple with 35 seconds remaining gave HPU the 35-31 advantage heading into the halftime break.

???? @CallieScheier #H3U x #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/zNej3cQSSB

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) January 12, 2022

 
HPU kept things rolling in the third as Scheier buried two more three-pointers before the media timeout. Meadows hit a triple before finding Wrightsell twice behind the arc, then Nakyah Terrell buried a three of her own to take a 57-49 lead into the final quarter.

O-board from @Jenson_edwards = @Nakyah_T 3!!!#H3U pic.twitter.com/OCugk22f2c

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) January 12, 2022

 

The Spartans pushed back within six points twice in the final frame, but Johnson answered with two more three-pointers while Meadows added a floating jumper of her own to keep Upstate at bay.

?? @cydneyyyy4 #H3U x #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/WPRaqYEHI9

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) January 12, 2022

 
Desperate to stay within striking distance, the Spartans used full court pressure and fouling to attempt to regain possession, but HPU capitalized as the Panthers went 10-for-10 from the free throw line in the final two minutes.

First conference win ?
First win in 2022 ?

17 three-pointers on the night as @CallieScheier ties a career high with 23 points! @cydneyyyy4 clutch down the stretch with 16 points!#H3U x #GoHPU pic.twitter.com/e8Wtc7K08Z

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) January 12, 2022

 
Up Next: The Panthers return home to Qubein Arena as they continue Big South contests. HPU will tip off at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday against Campbell. Vouchers from HPU's postponed game against Radford (1/4/22) will be valid for Saturday's game.