The Winthrop University women’s basketball team ended its season Saturday night after falling to top-seeded High Point University, 79-63, in the Big South Conference semifinals held in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Winthrop started strong in the first quarter, with Ruff scoring two free throws and making a steal on the next possession. Spencer responded for High Point with two three-pointers, giving HPU an early lead. Porter tied the game for Winthrop with free throws and a fastbreak layup. Naomi Wilson added a jumper off a Ruff assist to put Winthrop ahead 10-8. The Eagles extended their lead to 14-8 before Gerdes hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to cut it to 14-11 at the end of one quarter. Winthrop forced seven turnovers and grabbed ten offensive rebounds during this period.
In the second quarter, Gerdes tied the game for HPU before Spencer’s three-pointer gave them a 17-14 advantage. Collins increased HPU’s lead on a fastbreak play, and Nesland set up another Spencer three-pointer as High Point went up 30-18. Naomi Wilson scored again for Winthrop, but by halftime HPU led 35-23. Winthrop struggled offensively in this quarter, shooting just 2-of-13 from the field and committing seven turnovers.
High Point pulled away in the third quarter with Zavala and Collins adding points early before Spencer hit consecutive threes to extend their margin further. Despite Pierfax’s efforts for Winthrop, Collins scored six straight points as HPU built a commanding lead. Snotherly also contributed for High Point while Williams and Lard tried to keep Winthrop within reach. At the end of three quarters, HPU led 65-44 after shooting efficiently during that period.
In the fourth quarter, Porter opened scoring for Winthrop followed by Lard’s free throws but High Point maintained control throughout. After Porter narrowed the gap slightly with a three-pointer assisted by Lard, Spencer answered quickly with another fastbreak three for HPU. Williams fouled out late in the game after picking up a technical foul as foul trouble continued to affect Winthrop’s lineup.
Porter finished as Winthrop’s leading scorer with 19 points and ten rebounds while going perfect from the free throw line (8-of-8) and adding three assists. Lard contributed 14 points along with five assists and two steals over nearly all of regulation time. Ryiah Wilson came off the bench to record five steals in 28 minutes played.
Despite forcing twenty turnovers and recording thirteen steals overall, Winthrop was outrebounded by High Point (43-31) and outscored in paint points (38-26). For High Point University, Spencer led all scorers with 25 points including six made threes; Collins added fifteen points plus five steals and four assists.
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