HIGH POINT, N.C. -- Winthrop forced 19 turnovers and stayed aggressive on the road Wednesday night, but a fast start by High Point proved too much to overcome in a 74-60 decision at the Qubein Center.
Amourie Porter led the Eagles with 19 points, while
Cori Lard added 12 as
Madison Ruff rounded out the double-digits with eleven.
FIRST QUARTER
- Winthrop opened the scoring at the free-throw line as Mya Pierfax split a pair at the 8:54 mark.
- High Point answered quickly from the perimeter, hitting back-to-back threes to grab an early edge.
- Cori Lard sparked the Eagles defensively, turning a steal into a fast-break layup at 5:38 to cut the deficit to 8-5.
- The Panthers stretched the margin with a pair of triples midway through the quarter, forcing Winthrop to play from behind.
- Amourie Porter steadied the Eagles with a three-point play at 2:39, followed by a Madison Ruff jumper to keep Winthrop within reach.
- Tocarra Johnson capped the quarter with a layup off a Ryiah Wilson assist, but two late free throws sent Winthrop into the second trailing 25-14.
SECOND QUARTER
- Porter opened the quarter by knocking down two free throws at 9:20 as Winthrop continued to attack the rim.
- Cori Lard added a jumper at 8:37, trimming the margin to single digits during a strong stretch inside.
- Winthrop strung together a key sequence midway through the quarter, highlighted by Porter's tip-in at 6:07 and a Pierfax fast-break layup at 5:52.
- The Eagles forced multiple turnovers during the stretch, creating transition chances to stay within striking distance.
- High Point answered with a late spurt in the paint to slow Winthrop's momentum.
- A second-chance basket just before the horn sent Winthrop into halftime trailing 44-30.
THIRD QUARTER
- Winthrop opened the half with energy as Madison Ruff knocked down two free throws at 9:16.
- Ryiah Wilson buried a transition three at 8:57, cutting the margin to 47-35 and igniting the Eagles' bench.
- Cori Lard and Ruff converted fast-break baskets during a defensive stand that trimmed the deficit to 49-39.
- Winthrop continued to pressure the ball, forcing turnovers, and creating extra possessions.
- Tocarra Johnson went to the line at 4:11, knocking down two free throws to keep the Eagles within range.
- Winthrop closed the quarter strong at the stripe, pulling within 59-50 heading to the fourth.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Porter opened the quarter with a layup at 9:10 as Winthrop looked to chip away early.
- Cori Lard followed with a finish in the paint at 7:58, trimming the deficit to 62-54.
- Winthrop continued to generate steals, with Madison Ruff and Tocarra Johnson creating disruption defensively.
- Porter added another basket at 4:50 off a Pierfax assist to keep the Eagles pushing.
- Winthrop forced multiple late turnovers, converting at the line to close the gap further.
- A late run cut the margin to ten, but time ran out as the Eagles fell 74-60.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Winthrop shot 38.6 percent from the floor and 14-of-19 at the free-throw line.
- The Eagles forced 19 turnovers and turned them into 17 points, while scoring 13 fast-break points.
- Winthrop was held to two made three pointers on the night, going 2-for-18 from beyond the arc.
- Porter led the Eagles with 19 points, while Lard added 12 and Ruff finished with 11.
- Ryiah Wilson chipped in eight rebounds and four steals, helping anchor Winthrop's defensive effort.
NEXT UP
The Eagles get their bye this weekend, hitting the court again in a week against Presbyterian.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To keep up with the latest news on the Winthrop women's basketball program, follow the Eagles on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
