Site: Qubein Center (High Point, N.C.)
Score: High Point 71, Hampton 45
Records: High Point (6-10, 3-2), Hampton (6-7, 2-1)
Balanced scoring and an intense defensive effort helped the High Point University women's basketball team pick up their third conference win of the season after defeating Hampton, 71-45, on Saturday afternoon in the Qubein Center. Nakyah Terrell led the Panthers with 13 points, while Jaden Wrightsell finished with 11 points. Jenson Edwards pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.
Head coach Chelsea Banbury: "I'm really proud of how our girls came out, they really attacked from the start. I think this is the best defensively we have played for an entire game. Overall, I thought our intensity was much better than it has been so far this season. And then our scoring was really balanced today, and I think when you have a lot of kids who can score, you become a lot harder to guard. You can't focus on a certain person, you can't put your best defender on a certain person because we have other players capable of scoring."
Panther Particulars
The Panthers took control early in the game with a 12-2 run to open up the first quarter. Jaden Wrightsell went three for four on free throws, while
Jenson Edwards added to the run with points in transition.
Hampton would close the gap to pull within 12-8, but a
Claire Wyatt triple in the last minute of the quarter gave HPU the 15-8 advantage after one period. The Panthers started off hot, shooting 45 percent from the floor in the opening frame.
HPU kept the offensive momentum going in the second quarter. While Hampton was able to pull within 17-14 in the first few minutes, Jordan Edwards converted a three-point play with a driving layup to keep the Panther offense rolling.
HPU led by as many as 15 points in the first half, after Lalmani Simmons came off the bench and capitalized on strong defensive play from Jaden Wrightsell. The Panthers entered halftime with a 34-23 lead over the Lady Pirates while Claire Wyatt, Lalmani Simmons and Jaden Wrightsell led HPU with six points apiece.
After the halftime break, HPU used aggressive defense and fast-paced offense to extend the double-digit lead. Cydney Johnson opened up the third quarter scoring four of the Panthers first six points.
The Panthers continued to push the pace, as Nakyah Terrell and
Jenson Edwards hit back-to-back buckets to extend the HPU lead, 46-27, halfway through the third quarter.
As time was winding down in the third quarter, Hampton had control of the last possession until Jordan Edwards picked up the ninth steal for HPU and converted the layup in transition as time expired.
The Panther offense continued to pour it on the Pirates in the fourth quarter as HPU went on a 23-6 run that lasted nearly eight minutes in which seven different Panthers scored.
Despite being outrebounded 44-41, HPU finished the day shooting 42% from the field and forced 22 Hampton turnovers.
Up Next: HPU continue their homestand as they host Longwood on Tuesday (Jan. 25th) at the Qubein Center. Tipoff is set for 7 pm.
#GoHPU x #H3U
