HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University Panthers women's basketball team took to the court Monday evening in a contest against Division II opponent University of Virginia Wise. The Panthers took down the Cavaliers, 101-57.
High Point was led by Macy Spencer who shot perfect from the floor (8-8, 6-6) and finished with 22 points. Nevaeh Zavala also scored 20 points after a dominant first half. The Panthers are coming off of a Big Easy New Orleans Classic win taking down both the University of Louisiana and the College of Charleston.
Site: Qubein Center
Score: High Point 101, UVA Wise 57
Records: High Point (8-1), UVA Wise (3-2)
Head Coach Chelsea Banbury: "I guess that was an exciting one, scoring 101 points tonight. I'm just proud of how our girls came out and they competed. It has been a long few days. We just got home from New Orleans on Saturday, had practice yesterday and then had another one today. Three games in four days. I will admit it was on purpose because we do look at March a little bit and in March, we have to compete and we have to execute three games in four days. So, I didn't want the first time that we did that to be in March. They showed up and they executed this game and then quite honestly. We're doing a much better job of executing scouts and finding our teammates and knowing where they're good and when they have the advantage and 25 assists in a game is pretty good. That's a team that's sharing the ball and it's a fun, fun way to play."
Zavala opened the game up for the Panthers with nine of the team's first 13 points after draining a three. The Panthers went up 13-11 before the first official timeout. Zavala stayed hot after the timeout hitting her second three of the game to give the Panthers a five point lead.
Chana Paxixe then drove to the basket and with amazing footwork and a fake got herself on the scoresheet. Peyton Gerdes drew a foul on a made shot to give the Panthers a 22-14 lead with one-minute remaining in the opening quarter. She then was fouled on another shot, and converted both free throws as the Panthers took a 26-14 lead going into the second quarter.
Spencer opened up the quarter with two big three-pointers as the Panthers quickly took a 16-point lead. Dom Nesland grabbed a rebound and went coast-to-coast to lay it up. Aaliyah Collins then put on the spin-cycle and scored as the Panthers led 36-16.
Spencer stayed hot from three and Anna Hager drilled her own three in the corner. Spencer then made it 4-4 from deep. The Panthers went up 45-20 with 4:47 remaining in the first half. Quick ball movement from the Panthers capitalized with Zavala cutting to the basket and scoring bringing her first half total to 14.
Just as the buzzer sounded Spencer drained her fifth three. The Panthers took a 54-32 lead going into the half. All 17 of Spencer's first half points came in the second quarter.
Collins opened up the scoring in the second half with a driving layup on the left side. Spencer found Zavala from the top of the key to make it 58-32. Collins and Spencer then both scored to take a 30-point lead. Spencer continued her success with her sixth three of the game to bring her total to 22.
After the third-quarter media timeout, Kenaya Klintman drained a three pointer from the left wing. Gerdes hit her first three pointer of the night and as time winded down in the quarter Nesland got herself into double-digits. The Panthers led 81-46 going in the fourth quarter.
Gerdes scored four baskets in a row as the run continued to open the final 10 minutes. Her sixth made shot of the game secured her a career-high 15 points.
Sky Donaie entered the game and denied a Cavalier shot almost immediately. Donaie scored her first collegiate basket moments later. Kelsey Miller scored her first two collegiate points from the free-throw line.
The Panthers went over the century mark on a Paxixe layup as they went on to win 101-57.
High Point shot 66.7 percent from the floor and 47.8 percent from deep. The Panthers outscored the Cavaliers in the paint 56-14.
Up Next: The Panthers head to Orangeburg, S.C. for a matchup against the South Carolina State University Bulldogs. The game will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, December 5.
#H3U x #GoHPU
