HPU ROUNDUP: Strong 2nd half lifts HPU women past Longwood

Feb. 1—FARMVILLE, Va. — High Point University regrouped well in the second half to beat Longwood 64-53 in Big South Conference women's basketball Wednesday night in Longwood's Joan Perry Brock Center.

Lauren Bevis scored 22 points — including 18 in the second half — and grabbed five rebounds to lead the Panthers (11-10 overall, 6-2 conference), who have won six of their last seven game and moved into a second-place tie with Radford after the Highlanders lost at Charleston Southern.

Shakira Baskerville added 11 points followed by Nevaeh Zavala with 10 points and five rebounds and Faith Price, a former standout at Southwest Guilford and Ragsdale, with eight points — including a pair of 3-pointers during High Point's big run coming out of halftime.

The Panthers outscored the Lancers 40-18 in the second half — including 23-6 in the third quarter to turn an 11-point halftime deficit into a six-point lead heading to the final quarter. High Point scored the opening 10 points of the third to get within one and led by as much as 10 inside the final minute of the third.

The Panthers led the entire fourth — leading by 13 three times in the quarter. They forced 22 turnovers for the game against 17 of their own, leading to a 21-10 advantage on points off turnovers. High Point shot 42% from the field for the game — including 55% in the second half — while Longwood shot 37%.

Kiki McIntyre scored nine points to lead the Lancers (5-16, 2-6).

The Panthers play again Saturday at Presbyterian before returning home Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. against UNC Asheville.

HPU MEN'S BASKETBALL IN TOP 10 IN MID-MAJOR RANKINGS

HIGH POINT — High Point University's men's basketball team has jumped into the top 10 of College Insider's Mid-Major Top 25 rankings.

The Panthers are ninth in the weekly poll, which is the highest ranking in program history. They are up from No. 12 in the previous week's rankings and the only program ranked in the poll (UNC Asheville also received votes).

High Point rides a program-record 10-game winning streak into Thursday night's televised game against Longwood. It's also 7-0 in Big South play for the first time in program history.

HPU EARNS THREE WEEKLY TRACK & FIELD HONORS

HIGH POINT — High Point University earned two honors on the men's side and one on the women's side to highlight this week's Big South Conference track and field athletes of the week.

High Point's A'lajuwan Robinson received Men's Track Athlete of the Week while Andrew Taylor was named Men's Field Athlete of the Week. Sydney Horn earned Women's Field Athlete of the Week.

They were joined by Charleston Southern's Carl Murray IV as Men's Freshman Athlete of the Week and CSU's 4x400 relay team as the Women's Track Athletes of the Week.

Robinson ran a Big South season-best time of 21.40 in the 200m at the Bob Pollock Invitational. He also clocked in at 6.79 in the 60m dash.

Taylor became the Big South's record-holder in the high jump at the Bob Pollock Invitational, clearing 2.18m for his third win of the season. His school and conference record-setting effort ranks ninth in nation this year.

Horn won the pole vault at the Riverhawk Invitational in Boston with a winning clearance of 4.20m for her first victory of the year.

HPU MEN'S LACROSSE PICKED THIRD IN PRESEASON POLL

HIGH POINT — High Point University tied for third in the Atlantic 10 Conference's preseason men's lacrosse poll.

Richmond, last year's conference champion, led the poll with 33 points and four first-place votes. Saint Joseph's was second with 31 points and two first-place votes. High Point tied for third place in the six-team league with Massachusetts with 21 points.

Panthers senior midfielder Nick Rizzo was selected to the preseason all-conference team.