HIGH POINT, N.C - The High Point University women's basketball team defeated the University of Vermont Catamounts, 71-65, in a Wednesday evening match up inside of the Qubein Center.
HPU starts 5-0 for the first time in the program's Division I era.
High Point was led by Aaliyah Collins who set a new career-high with 29 points, while Junior Macy Spencer was right there with her scoring 23 points.
Site: Qubein Center
Score: High Point 71, Vermont 65
Records: High Point (5-0), Vermont (4-1)
Head Coach Chelsea Banbury: "Losing Lexi [Fleming] in the last game is a big deal for us, and she's a big part of our energy. So I am really proud of how we came out in that first quarter. We were ready to go, and we got to jump on them. That's a really good team that we just played, and we were forcing it to come out on the high side of things. Aaliyah [Collins] has stepped up in a big way and had a big night, basically putting us on her shoulders. She has carried us on both sides of the floor."
The Panthers started off the game by winning the tip off, as Macy Spencer made the first basket to get the Panthers on the board after almost two minutes of scoreless basketball. Aaliyah Collins had a layup in transition for her first points of the day. The Panthers would carry the momentum and go on a 11-0 run behind seven points from Spencer, and Collins with four points all being layups. The Panthers held the Catamounts scoreless for over six minutes.
Spencer caught fire in the first quarter and reached double-digits with three minutes left to play. Collins would join her with double-digits with under two minutes to play in the first quarter. After the first 10 minutes of play, the Panthers led 24-13.
To start the second quarter, the Panthers struggled to get the offense going, but Brecken Snotherly made both free throws to kick-start the Panthers. Snotherly was the first to score besides Spencer and Collins. Vermont was able to close the lead to six points with under six minutes to play in the half. Anna Hager was able to get on the board with a deep three off the wing. Collins recorded a steal off a press defense and went all the way down the lane to continue her high scoring first half.
Collins would stay productive on both defense and offense with a deflection that would lead to Dom Nesland's steal. Action would then lean to the Vermont's side after cutting High Point's lead to two points with under two minutes to play after a 6-0 run. Spencer ended Vermont's momentum with a layup at the buzzer after a rebound from Chana Paxixe. The Panthers headed into the half up 38-34.
After the first half the Panthers were able to maintain the lead with Collins and Spencer combining for 33 of the Panthers 38 points. HPU was able to fight the Catamounts late surge by keeping the turnover battle even with six each between the two teams.
The Panthers started a little slow coming out of the first half which allowed Vermont to go on a 4-0 run to even the score. Snotherly was able to score the first points of the second half with a powerful three for the Panthers. Spencer would then battle through multiple Vermont defenders for a strong off hand layup. Spencer's layup created a 4-0 run with under five minutes to play in the third quarter.
Nesland went on to make two free throws to expand the run to 6-0. Vermont would then close the lead with their first basket in two minutes and then score twice to even the game up at 46.
Spencer flew down the court to make an intense and one play swinging the Panthers back in front by three. Zavala assisted inside the paint but Spencer would bring the Panthers to 51 points. Vermont responded, but HPU led 51-49 after the third quarter.
The fourth quarter would begin with Collins having back-to-back baskets inside the paint to rival Vermont's scoring as well. Paxixe continued High Point's paint dominance with an and one play to expand the lead to five. Vermont tried to gain momentum, but Collins had answers down low with 11 points in the fourth.
Paxixe expanded the Panthers lead with a reverse layup assisted by Collins to keep the Panthers up six. With under two minutes to play the Panthers led 69-63, before Vermont knocked down a mid range basket to bring the game within four with under a minute to play.
A rebound by Nesland on Vermont's three point attempt secured the game for the Panthers. Paxixe tacked on two late points from the charity strike and the Panthers went on to win 71-65.
The Panthers scoring was led by Collins who had 29 points, while Spencer had 23. High Point shot 48.1% from the field and 40% from three.
Up Next: High Point will travel to Houston to play the University of Houston on November 23rd at 3:00pm.
#H3U x #GoHPU
