HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women's basketball team defeated the University of Denver, 63-55, on Sunday afternoon in its first meeting with the Pioneers.
Lauren Scott reached a huge milestone scoring 1,000 career points in her collegiate career following today's game.
Site: Qubein Center
Score: High Point 63, Denver 55
Records: High Point (3-2), Denver (0-3)
Head Coach Chelsea Banbury: "Thank goodness we got out of there with a win. I am thankful for that, but we're still yet to put four quarters together. That's something that we're going to focus on, and we just have to do a better job of sticking together as a team."
The Panthers were highlighted by
Jaleesa Lawrence and
Aaliyah Collins who led the team in points as both scored 18.
Shakira Baskerville tallied her single game career high with nine rebounds in today's contest.
Denver struggled in the first half only scoring 11 points. The HPU defense was playing as a team while creating trouble for the Pioneers on all fronts of the ball. Lawrence finished the first quarter with nine points following a good three pointer and a few layups.
Both teams were having trouble putting the ball in the hoop to start the second as
Lauren Scott would eventually nail back-to-back three pointers about halfway through. Collins made a good layup to take an 18-point lead before Denver hit a three to bring it back to 26-11 as the buzzer then sounded to send the game to halftime.
The Panther lead was brought back to 18, 31-13, as
Nevaeh Zavala was strong in the paint to put up two. The Pioneers crawled their way back to 38-27 before Lawrence hit another jumper to stay hot. HPU headed to the fourth quarter with a 17-point lead, 44-27.
Denver started to put the pressure on the Panthers as the fourth quarter went on. Baskerville drained a three point shot with 5:30 left on the clock to make it a 15-point game. That was when Denver turned on the jets and started chipping away. A few turnovers and fouls that went Denver's way allowed them to work it back to a five-point game with 1:24 left on the clock, 60-55.
Dom Nesland was fouled and hit both of her free throws to give the Panthers a cushion with just under a minute left. HPU was able to ride it out till the final buzzer for a Sunday victory against Denver in the first matchup against the Pioneers in program history.
Up Next: High Point will hit the road to face Wofford College on Thursday, November 21 at 7:00 p.m.
#H3U x #GoHPU
