Site: Kimmel Arena
Score: High Point 60, UNC Asheville 55
Records: High Point (23-4, 12-2), UNC Asheville (10-17, 5-9)
Head Coach Chelsea Banbury: "Tonight we're very fortunate to get out of here with a win. Asheville came out from the beginning, jumped on us early and played with a lot more energy. It really took us out of what we wanted to do on offense. But fortunately, we made enough plays to win. Chana [Paxixe] and Peyton [Gerdes] off the bench were huge for us, and then down the stretch Nevaeh [Zavala] had some big shots as well."
UNC Asheville opened the game with a fast start, holding High Point to 10 points in the first quarter and taking a 19-10 lead. The Panthers responded in the second quarter by tightening up defensively, limiting Asheville to just five points. High Point used a 15-5 quarter and a late
Macy Spencer three to take a 25-24 lead into halftime.
The third quarter featured a handful of lead changes as both teams traded baskets.
Peyton Gerdes scored five points in the quarter, including a fast-break layup and a free throw, as High Point took a 36-34 lead into the final quarter.
High Point took control early in the fourth quarter. Gerdes knocked down a three-pointer with 8:36 remaining to push the lead to seven, and she followed with a transition layup and two free throws to extend the advantage to 11. The Panthers shot 70 percent from the floor in the fourth quarter and went 8-for-8 at the free-throw line.
UNC Asheville trimmed the margin late, but Spencer sealed the win by knocking down four free throws in the final 15 seconds.
Gerdes led High Point with a game-high and career-high 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Spencer finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and six assists, while
Chana Paxixe added nine points, six rebounds, and five assists. High Point scored 22 fast break points and finished with 21 points off turnovers.
Up Next: High Point will remain on the road for it's last away game of the regular season on Saturday, February 21 at 2:00 p.m. against Gardner-Webb University.
