Box Score

FARMVILLE, Va. – Sophomore Kyndal Skersick/Orlando, Fla. logged a game-high 22 points, as the Longwood University women's basketball team dropped an 81-65 decision against Big South Conference opponent High Point University (12-8, 8-3) on Saturday afternoon in Willett Hall. The squads battled in the first half with the Lancers trailing by just three at the break, but the Panthers used a 21-10 second half run to pull away. Freshman Brenna Robbins/Erie, Pa. paced the Lancers on the glass with a personal-best 11 rebounds in the outing. Four Panthers tallied double-figure points on the day, including DeAnneisha Jackson with a team-high 18 points. Longwood will take to the road for a pair of Big South games next week beginning at Campbell University on Thursday, Jan. 30. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.

"I think we got a little tired in the second half today," said head coach Bill Reinson. "We have a few people playing out of position and we just wore down. Brenna Robbins has played great under tough circumstances. She's gaining valuable experience that will definitely help us down the road. I still believe we have a chance to be a pretty good team, but we need to figure it out soon."

Longwood controlled the momentum in the opening minutes of play, scoring the first six points of the game with a pair of jumpers by sophomore Raven Williams/Richmond and free throws from Skersick. HPU was quick to retaliate with 11 consecutive points, giving the visitors a five-point advantage with 14:20 remaining in the first half. Brown ended the silence for the Lancers with a fast-break layup, but the Panthers answered with seven more points to take their largest and only double-digit lead of the half at 18-8 with 12:22 to play. Longwood fought to close the gap to three with buckets from Skersick and freshman Treasure Avery/Lincolnton, N.C., making the score 18-15 at 9:41. The teams traded baskets, as High Point maintained at least a three point edge for the next three minutes until Skersick completed a three-point play to cut the difference to just one at 24-23 with 6:21 left in the first. The squads continued to alternate points with Longwood on the heels of High Point before Skersick drained a three and Robbins hit a free throw to pull the Lancers within one-point of the lead once again, this time with less than a minute to go. The Panthers tallied the final field goal of the half, however, to take a 35-32 edge into the break.

High Point outscored Longwood, 8-3, in the first four minutes of the second half. Sophomore Jaclyn Reagan/Crossville, Tenn. followed with a jumper from beyond the arc for the Lancers, but HPU's Lindsay Puckett hit one of her own on the next possession to give the visitors a 47-38 margin with 15 minutes remaining in the contest. The Panthers put together a 13-5 spurt to pull ahead, 60-43, with less than 10 minutes to go. Longwood was able to cut the buffer back to 13, making the score 66-53, but HPU responded with a 12-2 run to go up, 78-55, at 2:02. In the waning minutes, Williams took advantage of four chances at the line and hit her lone three-pointer of the day, while Skersick knocked down her second three-point jumper, but High Point was able to secure the 81-65 victory.

Skersick went a career-high 8-for-10 at the foul line en route to tallying 22 points. She led three double-digit scorers for Longwood, as Williams and classmate Daeisha Brown/Richmond added 15 and 11 points, respectively. As a team, the Lancers shot 31% (19-62) from the floor, including 22% (5-23) from beyond the arc, and 67% (22-33) from the line in the outing.

Jackson was aided by Kaylah Keyes and Puckett with 17 and 15 points, respectively. Ashante Richard led HPU with 11 rebounds. As a whole, High Point shot 46% (26-56) from the field, 33% (5-15) from three-point territory and 73% (24-33) from the foul line.

Saturday's contest marked the 29th meeting between Longwood and High Point in the sport of women's basketball. The Panthers hold an 18-11 advantage in the all-time series.