HPU women set sights on William & Mary in NCAA Tournament
HIGH POINT — For the second time in five years, High Point University will play in the NCAA Tournament.
The Panthers, champions of the Big South women’s basketball tournament, will face William & Mary in a first-four game Thursday at 9 p.m. in Austin, Texas. High Point and the Tribe are both 16 seeds in the Birmingham bracket.
The winner will face No. 1 Texas in the first round Saturday at 9:45 p.m.
“It’s been a long week waiting to find out what our destiny is and where we’re going,” Panthers coach Chelsea Banbury said. “So, I’m just excited to finally have an opponent to focus on, know where we’re going to be traveling and who we’re going to be playing. I’m excited. This is March — we live for these moments. I’m glad we’re here and I can’t wait to get started.”
THE MATCHUP
High Point — 21-11 overall (13-3 conference, first); ranked No. 199 in NET
William & Mary — 15-18 overall (8-10 conference, tied ninth); ranked No. 275 in NET
Rankings — High Point: scoring offense 134th (67.2); scoring defense 47th (58.1); scoring margin 78th (9.1); field goal percentage 85th (43.5); free throw percentage 89th (74.0); 3-point percentage 189th (30.8); rebounds per game 318th (32.25); assist-turnover ratio 183rd (0.80)
William & Mary: scoring offense 244th (61.8); scoring defense 219th (66.0); scoring margin 254th (-4.3); field goal percentage 246th (38.9); free throw percentage 192nd (71.0); 3-point percentage 287th (28.1); rebounds per game 173rd (36.42); assist-turnover ratio 151st (16.42)
Players to watch — High Point: Nevaeh Zavala (first team All-Big South; 10.6 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game), Jaleesa Lawrence (second team All-Big South; 9.9 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game, 1.8 assists per game, 2.0 steals per game), Aaliyah Collins (10.0 points per game, 3.1 assists per game, 2.6 steals per game), Lauren Scott (9.7 points per game, 1.6 3s per game)
William & Mary: Bella Nascimento (second team All-CAA; 16.3 points per game, 1.6 steals per game, 39% field goal percentage, 29% 3-point percentage), Anahi-Lee Cauley (2.4 assists per game, .5 blocks per game), Cassidy Geddes (2.2 assists per game, 1.3 steals per game), Jana Sallman (.6 blocks per game), Natalie Fox (.5 blocks per game)
THE TRIBE’S EPIC RUN
William & Mary, the No. 9 seed, made a historic run just to reach the Coastal Athletic Association’s tournament championship — the lowest ever seed to reach the final. Then the Tribe rallied from a 14-0 start to beat third-seeded Campbell 666-3 and won their first conference tournament title.
William & Mary also took down No. 4 Drexel in the semifinals, No. 1 North Carolina A&T in the quarterfinals and No. 8 Hofstra in the opening round.
“They have some very good players,” Banbury said. “They’re playing really well right now. They made a run through their tournament, going in as a nine seed and winning it. We’re going to have to play good basketball.
“I said to the team this week: ‘No matter who we play, it’s the best of the best. You have to show up. You have to execute. And you have to be ready to go.’ We’ll start working on our game plan and see what we can do.”
SELECTION SHOW
High Point won the conference tournament in 2021 — still very much in the midst of the pandemic. Very few people outside of program witnessed the Panthers’ first tournament title and resulting NCAA Tournament experience.
This year has been very different. Plenty of fans stayed following the men’s selection show to watch the women’s selection show in the Qubein Center with the team.
“During COVID, we were in The Point and it was literally our team — that was it,” Banbury said. “It was awesome for them to get to experience it. They earned the right to be here, and they need to soak it in and enjoy every moment of it. This part of it is fun. It is something truly special. I’m excited they get to experience it and get the full effect. And hopefully they’re ready to work.”
THEIR NAME IN BIG LIGHTS
When their name was announced, the Panthers and their fans erupted with cheers.
“Obviously, it’s a moment I’ve kind of waited for my whole life,” senior guard Aaliyah Collins said. “It’s kind of surreal almost. At the same time, yeah, we finally won the championship, but it’s not over. We get to go dancing. We just have to focus on this game, get that done and look forward to the next.”
Added junior forward Nevaeh Zavala: “It’s nice to kind of sit back and see all the hard work we have put in. And we need to keep it up. So, it is motivating. At the beginning of the year, our goal was this. And now that we’ve gotten here, now we have a new goal.”
FIGHTING THROUGH ADVERSITY
Nakyah Terrell has been a big part of High Point’s success this season. She leads the team in assists and is in the top five in nearly every category.
So when Terrell, a senior guard, suffered a leg injury during the semifinals of the Big South tournament and missed the championship game as well, it was a big blow. But the Panthers responded.
“Going into that game, Coach had written on the board: Play for two,” Zavala said. “We’re doing this for the people who can’t. We’re playing for our sister, our teammate, our best friend. It was very emotional, but it definitely helped to drive the win against Longwood.”
The Panthers made plays down the stretch to tip the balance in the final quarter and celebrated with Terrell on the court afterward.
“After the championship, they took the trophy to her — she was such a big part of what we accomplished this year,” Banbury said. “Obviously scoring and keeping us together on court, but she’s such a good leader. She got us to this point and made the team come together. I think they wanted to win that for her, just because she’s been so focused and driven.”
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