JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — The High Point University women's basketball team took on the Radford Highlanders in the Big South Conference Championship, where, despite being down at halftime, the Panthers reigned supreme, 71-67, and won the conference championship for the second consecutive year on Sunday night. Two Panthers were named to the All-Tournament team, as Aaliyah Collins was named Most Valuable Player and Big South Player of the Year, Macy Spencer, was also recognized.
Collins led the way for the Panthers with 21 points and six assists. Anna Hager added another 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Site: Freedom Hall Civic Center
Score: High Point 71, Radford 67
Records: High Point (27-5, 13-3), Radford (22-12, 12-4)
Head Coach Chelsea Banbury: "It feels good, doesn't it? I'm just so proud of our girls. We talk a lot about basketball as a game of runs. I would say today was definitely that. Both of us [Radford] went on runs and we've talked a lot about staying together, staying together as a team. Who are we when things don't go our way? Are we going to crumble or are we going to rally together and essentially figure it out and fortunately we figured it out. It definitely started on the defensive end and we were able to go on our run. We were able to get some stops, but these two next to me, they were huge Anna [Hager] hit a lot of shots early for us to get us going, seven boards. Georgia's [Simonsen] a really good player and Anna busted her butt and made her work for it and didn't give her anything easy. Then down the stretch, Aaliyah [Collins] she's pretty fast. They definitely couldn't stay in front of her. I'm proud of our whole team. It was definitely a team effort and that's what we emphasize."
The Panthers were down 14-10 before Hager and Peyton Gerdes hit back-to-back three-pointers, and Collins hit two free throws to take an 18-16 lead into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, layups from Dom Nesland and Gerdes gave the Panthers a five-point lead. Both teams went back and forth, matching each other's intensity, which eventually saw Radford pull ahead by three going into halftime.
The Panthers took back the lead in the third quarter with made baskets from Brecken Snotherly, Hager, Nevaeh Zavala, Collins, and two Chana Paxixe free throws, showing the strength of the team as a unit. Spencer hit her first three of the game after tying the conference semifinal record for made three-pointers. Collins then made another layup and converted on a three-point play as the Panthers went up 51-43 with 2:36 left in the third.
Hager extended the Panthers' lead to double-digits with another shot from beyond the arc. Paxixe made her first field goal of the game, driving to the basket as the Panthers, once down by three, took a 56-45 lead into the final quarter.
Collins could not be stopped, but Radford got back into the game as both teams were tied at 63 going into the under-five media timeout. Coming out of the timeout, the Panthers put up a quick four points with another Collins layup and a hook shot from Hager, before Radford had to call one of their own.
"It's kind of surreal," Collins said. "I honestly wasn't expecting to receive that, just because we have so much talent on the team. I think it could've went to anyone. It feels good, but the job's not done yet. Feel it, but we got stuff to work on and work towards."
Two more Collins free throws and a Spencer free throw gave the Panthers a 70-67 lead with 12.2 seconds left. Radford had an opportunity to tie the game but was unsuccessful as Zavala hit the game-sealing free-throw as the Panthers won 71-67.
Up Next: The Panthers will have a week until Selection Sunday on March 15 to determine who they will play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
#H3U x #GoHPU
