HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women's basketball team dominated on the floor tonight as the Panthers defeated the Winston-Salem State Rams, 90-54, on Friday night.
Site: Qubein Center
Score: High Point 90, Winston-Salem State 54
Records: High Point (4-6), Winston-Salem State (2-7)
Head Coach Chelsea Banbury: "Overall, a pretty good team win. I do think we have more breakdowns than I would like to see, but we look good and then give up 24 points in the fourth quarter. That can't happen. We are emphasizing a lot about how I do not care who is in the game, we need to play one way, and I do not think we've gotten to that point yet. We have some work to do in practice, but tonight was a great win for the team."
Junior forward,
Nevaeh Zavala led the floor in tonight contest as she recorded her second career double-double with 16 points and 11 boards on the floor. Three other Panthers scored in the double figures as
Nakyah Terrell had 12 points,
Lauren Scott had 11, and
Aaliyah Collins knocked down 10.
The Panthers started on a 15-0 run to start the game before the Rams scored off a layup with 3:31 to go in the first quarter. High Point took a 14-point lead into the second quarter after each Panther on the floor contributed to their point total.
High Point took its biggest lead of the game in the second quarter as Terrell and Scott started to drain a few from beyond the arch.
Peyton Gerdes got into the game as she immediately made an impact as she tipped one in to extend the lead to 23, 34-11. HPU jumped out to a 28-point lead, 39-11, after
Dom Nesland drained both her free throws. The Rams worked their way back a bit as they knocked down a few shots to head into the break down 20.
Jaleesa Lawrence started the second half for HPU by draining a three ball off the inbound from Terrell.
Chana Paxixe then converted on a layup and was fouled to go to the line for a three-point play to take a 30-point lead with 7:15 left. The Panthers kept dominating on the floor as they took a 39-point lead into the fourth quarter.
The Rams came alive in the fourth quarter as they outscored the Panthers, 24-21. High Point kept its 30-plus point lead, but the Rams managed to knock down a few threes and layups to slowly crawl back.
Audrey Meyers checked in to tonight's contest in the fourth quarter and was quick to drain a three pointer from the corner for her first three ball in the Purple and White. The HPU lead extended to 41 after
Ariana Wilkes made one of her free throws. The Rams brought it back to 36 before the final whistle, giving HPU the 90-54 win on Friday night.
High Point returned to the win column to earn its fourth win before hitting the road once again for two more games.
Up Next: High Point will return to Florida to match up against Stetson University on Saturday, December 14. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m.
#H3U x #GoHPU
