ROCK HILL, S.C. – The High Point University women's basketball team defeat Winthrop in overtime, 65-64, on Wednesday night.
Site: Winthrop Coliseum
Score: High Point 65, Winthrop 64
Records: High Point (18-10, 13-2), Winthrop (13-15, 7-8)
Head Coach Chelsea Banbury: "We are fortunate to come in here and get a win on the road. It wasn't necessarily pretty, but hats off to Winthrop. I thought they played well, they played hard, and they were attacking us. We have to defend without fouling as they were 23 for 26 from the free throw line. That's just way too many to expect to win games and then on the flip side, we have to step up and knock down free throws. 12-21 just isn't good enough, so we are going to work on that. Fortunately, we made enough plays to get the win and we came in here and did it in overtime. I'm thankful for that, but we have some things to work on."
Lauren Bevis led the floor with 23 points as she was able to contribute a few three pointers to pull the Panthers ahead of the Eagles.
Nakyah Terrell with 12 points on the floor, scored the first two points for HPU off a layup on the right side.
Bevis snuck an easy two points as she drove to the basket with just under a minute to play in the first quarter.
Winthrop had a 9-7 lead after the first quarter.
Bevis knocked down her first from beyond the arc to bring HPU back to within one point early in the second.
Late in the third, it was tied 18-18 as
Callie Scheier pulled up from the corner for three to give HPU a three-point lead.
The Panthers headed to the locker up 22-21 at the half.
Right out of the gates, Bevis pulled up for a jumper to get HPU on the board in the second half.
Five minutes left in the third quarter; the game was tied at 30 a piece as
Faith Price got a wide open three to drop to put HPU on top.
The Panthers were up 42-40 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the first possession of the quarter,
Bukky Akinsola floated one up for two as HPU jumped out to a four-point lead.
With just under eight to play, Bevis knocked in another clutch three to break the 44-44 tie.
The Eagles were able to come back to within two points with just under one minute to play in regulation. With seven seconds left in regulation, Jada Ryce for Winthrop drained a two pointer to send the game into overtime at 55-55.
High Point down 58-57 with just about three minutes left in OT, Bevis got another three to fall to put HPU on top again.
Seven seconds left in overtime;
Amaria McNear found
Nevaeh Zavala under the hoop on the inbound pass. Zavala outplayed her defender as she was able to control the ball and put it up for two. High Point had a 65-64 lead with 2 second left.
Winthrop could not get that last basket to send them home a winner. High Point took home another road win and has swept Winthrop in the regular season.
Up Next: HPU will play its last game of the regular season on Saturday March 2, against Longwood. It is senior night for the Panthers as tip is set for 7 p.m.
#H3U x #GoHPU
