CHARLOTTESVILE, Va. - Despite
Bukky Akinsola scoring 21 points, the High Point University women's basketball team fell to the No. 4 seed Virginia in the first round of the Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament Thursday night, 81-59.
Site: John Paul Jones Arena
Score: High Point 59, Virginia 81
Records: High Point (20-12), Virginia (16-15)
Head Coach Chelsea Banbury: "I am disappointed in how the season ended, but I do think our girls played hard. Unfortunately, we just turned the ball over way too many times tonight to have any success. 23 turnovers and I think they had 29 points off of turnovers. But I do think our girls fought hard, so I am proud of them for that. And proud of our seniors and the season that we had."
The Cavaliers jumped out to an early 7-0 run in the first minute as the ball kept finding the basket. High Point found its first points as Akinsola knocked down a jumper for two points.
The Panthers took their first and only lead of the game after a bucket from Akinsola off a fast break in the paint, making it a 9-7 game.
Virginia led after the first quarter, 26-18. The Panthers struggled a little bit in the second quarter as the Cavs came out hot scoring basket after basket.
Lauren Bevis knocked down a wide open three to cut the lead to 16 late in the second. The Panthers went to the locker room down 43-29.
Callie Scheier found the open lane driving to the basket for two points in the third quarter to cut the lead to under 20. Akinsola continued to put up points as she hit a few more buckets as the Panthers headed to the fourth down, 65-43.
Mack Maier got on the court in the fourth as Anna Hager found her cutting to the basket for two points. She also drained a three pointer with 45 seconds remaining.
The Cavs held off the Panthers in the first round of the WBIT to advance to the second round.
High Point finished its 2023-24 season with an overall record of 20-12 and a 14-2 record in the Big South Conference. The Panthers were also crowned the Big South Regular Season Champions to add to their 20-win season.
#H3U x #GoHPU
