SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The High Point University women's basketball team fell to Wofford College, 71-65, on Thursday night.
Site: Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium
Score: High Point 65, Wofford 71
Records: High Point (3-3), Wofford (4-2)
Head Coach Chelsea Banbury: "I think this was a missed opportunity today. We came out strong and we had a lot of good energy. We let that down in the second quarter. They were able to score 20 points in the second quarter and then again to start the fourth. They went on like an 11-0 run and we can't let that happen. For whatever reason, we never come out ready in the fourth quarter and that must change. It is something we will be working on in practice, but Wofford battled for the whole game, so kudos to them."
High Point got off to a quick start as they found the three ball early.
Jaleesa Lawrence started it off draining one from beyond the arc and then the team went 4-for-5 to round out the quarter.
Lauren Scott,
Shakira Baskerville, and
Nevaeh Zavala all dropped threes to help the Panthers jump out to a 20-9 lead after the first 10 minutes.
The Terriers worked their way back as they brought it to a one-point game, 24-23, about halfway through the second quarter.
Aaliyah Collins drove to the basket for a few easy layups to bring it to a three-point game before the Terriers would tie it at 28 with 1:40 left. Wofford took its first lead of the game after a good free throw to put them ahead one, 29-28. Anna Hager hit 1-of-2 from the line to bring it back to a tie at 29 before
Dom Nesland would drain a three pointer with eight seconds on the clock to head into the locker room up three, 32-29.
The third quarter stayed close with back and forth play between the Terriers and the Panthers. Wofford was quick to tie it up at 32 following a good three pointer and then taking the two-point lead, 34-32. Collins tied it back up at 34 with a layup followed by a Lawrence jumper to go out front again. The Panthers did not look back as their biggest lead of the quarter came in the final two minutes after Collins went up for a layup to take an eight-point lead. The Terriers managed to work their way back to score four in the final minute to head to the fourth quarter, 50-46 in favor of HPU.
Wofford tied the game at 52 early in the fourth after two back-to-back three pointers, and then took the lead after a good layup. The Terriers never gave the lead back after taking over with 7:44 left on the clock. Wofford went up six after another good three with five minutes left. High Point worked its way to a two-point game after Zavala drew a foul and drained both of her free throws with 2:48 left in the game. Wofford went back up four before Lawrence and Zavala went to the line and went 3-for-4 to make it a one-point game. A few fouls by HPU and made free throws by the Terriers led to a 71-65 win for Wofford.
Four Panthers posted double digits, while Zavala, Hager, and Lawrence tallied six rebounds apiece.
Up Next: High Point will head to Florida for the Gulf Coast Showcase. HPU will be guaranteed three games and will start with top-ranked West Virginia University on Friday, November 29. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m. in the Hertz Arena.
#H3U x #GoHPU
