BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The High Point University women's basketball team fell to Gardner-Webb, 64-52, on Saturday afternoon.
Site: Paul Porter Arena
Score: High Point 52, Gardner-Webb 64
Records: High Point (8-9, 3-1), Gardner-Webb (5-11, 2-2)
Nevaeh Zavala won the tip for HPU, but it took a few minutes for High Point to knock down some shots. The Runnin' Bulldogs went up, 10-4 with just about 5:30 left before
Shakira Baskerville drove to the hoop to cut the lead to two possessions. GWU was only able to find two more points in the last five minutes as the Panthers worked their way back to a one-point game after the first 10 minutes, 12-11.
Nakyah Terrell handed High Point its first lead of the game to start the second quarter as she banked one off the glass to take the 13-12 lead. A few minutes later, Terrell drained a three pointer to tie the game at 16. The Panthers went back down one, 19-18 with just under five to play as
Chana Paxixe spun her way to the hoop for a layup to regain a one-point advantage. HPU went out as far as six points, 25-19 after Terrell hit one of her foul shots. The Runnin' Bulldogs went on a 6-0 run to close out the first half tied at 25.
Zavala started the third quarter by giving HPU the lead back as Terrell found her in the paint for and easy two. The Bulldogs tied the game at 27 before a fast break layup from Baskerville took the lead right back for the Panthers. A 10-3 run from Gardner-Webb pushed them out front seven before
Lauren Scott dropped a three pointer with about a minute remaining in the quarter. High Point cut the lead to three points with 30 seconds left on the clock. The Bulldogs went to the line with three seconds left as Ashley Hawkins made one of her two shots to take a four-point lead to the fourth quarter.
Scott was quick to erase the four-point deficit with a three pointer to bring HPU back within one possession, 40-39. The Runnin' Bulldogs started to chip away as their lead was up to five before the Panthers answered with a jumper by Zavala and a layup by
Jaleesa Lawrence to come back within one. The Bulldogs put an end to the Panthers comeback as they were able to cause stops to grow an 11-point cushion with 1:50 left. Gardner-Webb coasted to the final buzzer with a double-digit lead to hand High Point its first loss in conference play.
High Point falls to 3-1 in Big South play following the 64-52 loss at Paul Porter Arena on Saturday afternoon.
Up Next: High Point will host Longwood University at the Qubein Center on Wednesday, January 15. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
