ROCK HILL, S.C. – Winthrop women's basketball fell to High Point Sunday night, 58-41. The Eagles are now 2-7 overall, with a 1-5 mark in conference play.

WINTHROP (2-7, 1-5 BSC)
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Tori Hall (8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block)
Alexis Sykes (8 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal)
Madison Ervin (8 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal)
 
HIGH POINT (9-4, 7-1 BSC)
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Skylar Curran (18 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist)
Jenson Edwards (12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block)

HOW IT HAPPENED
 
FIRST HALF
Winthrop immediately received an offensive spark from sophomore Tori Hall, who scored three consecutive baskets for the Eagles to open the contest, two from behind-the-arc, giving the home team an early 8-2 lead over the Panthers. Alexis Sykes checked into the contest and hit a big 3-pointer before time expired to give Winthrop a 14-13 edge over the Panthers after 10 minutes of play.
 
Skylar Curran wasted no time getting High Point in the board in the second quarter, hitting a shot from behind-the-arc before sinking free throws to make it an 18-14 contest in favor of the Panthers. Sydney Hunter and Madison Ervin exchanged buckets to make it a tied game at 18. High Point would end the half with a 12-2 run to take a 30-20 lead at halftime. Six of High Point's last 12 points came in response to turnovers at the hands of Myra Strickland.
 
Winthrop shot 8-of-27 from the field (30 percent) in the first half, while the Panthers were 9-of-22 from the field (41 percent). The Eagles were led by Tori Hall, who contributed eight first-half points. High Point was led by Skylar Curran who also had eight points in the first half and also led with four rebounds.
 
SECOND HALF
Sydney Hunter started the scoring in the second half with a jumper in the paint to make it an eight-point game. Winthrop held High Point scoreless 5:20 mark when Courtney Meadows made 1-of-2 free throws. Ervin responded with a 3-pointer to keep the Eagles within reach. The Panthers ended the quarter on a 12-2 run and a 13-point lead with 10 minutes to play.
  
Once again, Winthrop strikes first with a layup from Alexis Sykes 30 seconds into the quarter. The Panthers made consecutive baskets before Anika Riley made a jumper of her own to make it a 13-point contest. High Point went on to make four consecutive field goals to end the game.
 
Winthrop was outscored in 3-of-4 quarters but committed a season-low five turnovers. Sydney Hunter led the team in rebounds with seven, while three players, Tori Hall, Madison Ervin and Alexis Sykes, finished with a game-high eight points.  
 
THE NUMBERS

• The Panthers turned the ball over 12 times, resulting in 13 points for the Eagles.
• Winthrop had a season-low 5 turnovers, resulting in 10 points for High Point.
• 11 of Winthrop's 41 points came off the bench, led by Alexis Sykes with eight.
• The Eagles were out-rebounded 38-31
• Winthrop shot 28 percent, 29 percent from behind-the-arc and 67 percent from the line
• The Panthers shot 44 percent, 38 percent from 3-point line and 82 percent from the charity stripe.
• Winthrop has now been held to single-digit scoring in one or more quarters in the last six contests

 
UP NEXT
Winthrop will travel to Farmville, V.A. looking to snap its five-game losing streak when it takes on the Longwood Lancers in back-to-back games Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. The Eagles swept the Lancers in the 2019-20 season, winning the first meeting at home, 74-63, before defeating Longwood on their home floor, 63-60.