Site: Porter Arena (Boiling Springs, N.C.)
Score: High Point 53, Gardner-Webb 62
Records: High Point (12-12, 9-4), Gardner-Webb (13-13, 11-4)
 
The High Point University women's basketball team dropped their first game in the month of February in a 62-53 contest to Gardner-Webb. Jordan Edwards led HPU with 16 points and went 6-for-7 from the free throw line while Jenson Edwards added 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
 
Panther Particulars
Callie Scheier opened up the game for HPU with a three-pointer that would spark a 7-2 run for the Panthers to give the visitors a 7-5 lead.
 
Gardner-Webb answered with the next eight points before a Jordan Edwards layup ended the run and brought the Panthers back within 13-9. Edwards led HPU with six first-quarter points, using Gardner-Webb's pressure to beat the defense down to floor for layups and free throws.

Panthers break the pressure and @jord1edwards finds an open lane for 2!

HPU trails GW 13-9 with 2:52 remaining in the Q1.#GoHPU x #H3U pic.twitter.com/JVPvk68vc0

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) February 16, 2022

 
High Point began the second quarter by scoring nine points as Jenson Edwards contributed five points in the run.

We're tied up! @jenson_edwards triple has us knotted at 16.#GoHPU x #H3U pic.twitter.com/9yVPXCsbQC

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) February 16, 2022

 
The Runnin' Bulldogs used a 9-2 run to take back the 27-24 lead with 1:24 remaining in the half until Jaden Wrightsell made a jumper with 1:03 left to pull back within one. HPU trailed Gardner-Webb 27-26 at halftime with Jordan Edwards leading the Panthers in scoring (10 points).

.@Jenson_edwards ?? @its_jaadenjaay #GoHPU x #H3U pic.twitter.com/Bd1iTP0oXv

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) February 16, 2022

 
Both teams traded points early in the third quarter to continue the evenly-matched battle as each side went on 4-0 runs out of the halftime break. Jordan Edwards continued to pace HPU, making two layups to push her total to 14 points through the media timeout.

.@Jenson_edwards ?? @its_jaadenjaay #GoHPU x #H3U pic.twitter.com/Bd1iTP0oXv

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) February 16, 2022

 

Another one!!! Keep it rolling @jord1edwards ?????#GoHPU x #H3U pic.twitter.com/hvQDFQPfGK

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) February 16, 2022

Five free throws and a layup from the Runnin' Bulldogs extended the home-team lead, 43-36 with 2:40 left in the frame.
 
A Nakyah Terrell layup brought the Panthers back within five before HPU made a stop on the defensive end. Cydney Johnson found space to get to the rim and made the layup in the final four seconds of the quarter to put HPU back within 43-40 entering the final period.
 
HPU's offense was limited to just four free throws in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter until Claire Wyatt made a layup to bring HPU back with 50-46. Two Callie Scheier free throws reduced Gardner-Webb's lead to two before a 6-0 Runnin' Bulldog sequence afforded the home team an eight-point lead with less than 30 seconds remaining.

Four quick points for @claire_wyatt10 and we're back within four! HPU trails 50-46 with 4:25 left. #GoHPU x #H3U pic.twitter.com/8f9GkCa0M0

— HPU Women's Basketball (@HPUWBB) February 16, 2022

Up Next: HPU looks to a two-game series with Charleston Southern. The Panthers travel to Charleston on Thursday before hosting CSU in the Qubein Center on Saturday afternoon. Thursday's tip is set for 5:30 p.m.