HIGH POINT, N.C – Nevaeh Zavala scores a career-high 33-points as the High Point University women's basketball team fell short to the Longwood Lancers, 72-68, on Wednesday night.
Site: Qubein Center
Score: High Point 68, Longwood 72
Records: High Point (8-10, 3-2), Longwood (14-5, 5-0)
Head Coach Chelsea Banbury: "I'm disappointed that we lost, I think we had too many breakdowns against the press throughout the game. We really dug ourselves a hole in the third quarter, but Longwood is a good team. They've proven to turn people over a lot and they've had a great season up until this point. We knew that we had to take care of the ball and execute a game plan, but unfortunately it took us about 30 minutes to get to doing that. On the bright side, I do think our girls fought. Nevaeh (Zavala) had a huge game for us. Looking for her was extremely efficient for us. We just have to be better for 40 minutes and we have to be ready to execute for those 40 minutes. We can't come into a game and expect to execute for part of it and beat a good team.
High Point did not put its best performance out on the court tonight, but Zavala stood out among the rest as she led the floor with 33-points and helped HPU shrink a 17-point difference to a four-point game.
The Lancers and the Panthers were hanging with each other in the first quarter until the Lancers pulled away late after draining a three-pointer followed by a layup to take the 17-12 lead into the second quarter.
Dom Nesland started the second quarter making a layup and then hitting a free throw to bring HPU back within two before
Shakira Baskerville tied it at 17. Longwood pulled ahead by four just as the Panthers went on a 4-0 run to even the scoring at 21. The Lancers spread the difference as they went on an 8-0 run to kick-start their lead. A good jumper by
Lauren Scott in the final seconds of the first half helped HPU cut the Lancer lead to seven, 38-31 at the break.
A 14-4 run by the Lancers is how the third quarter started for Longwood. What took about five minutes, the Lancers held their largest lead of the game at 17-points. In the final five minutes of the third quarter, HPU took a 12-8 advantage to cut the lead down to 10 heading into the fourth quarter. Zavala was able to knock down nine of those 12 points to keep High Point in the game.
Longwood was quick to open its lead back to double digits just before Zavala dropped a three pointer to open the fourth quarter. With about 5:40 left in the game,
Jaleesa Lawrence knocked down a big time three from the top of the arc to pull within five of the Lancers. The Panthers were able to work their way to within three points two separate times as Zavala and Nesland scored on layups. Longwood was right there to answer with points of its own to maintain a cushion. With about eight seconds left on the clock, Nesland scored on a tip-in in the paint to come within four as the Lancers held on to the 72-68 win.
Zavala led the floor with a career-high 33 points on 72% shooting. She pulled in nine rebounds and went 4-4 from the free throw line.
Up Next: High Point will head to Presbyterian College on Saturday, January 18 to battle the Blue Hose. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.
#H3U x #GoHPU
