NEWS

Ellie Sutphin in the exhibition game vs. Newberry.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Davidson women’s basketball team shot 64 percent from the field over the final two quarters of play on Monday night to come from behind and beat the High Point Panthers, 77-64, in their season opener.

Suzi-Rose Deegan led the Wildcats with 16 points, while Chloe Welch and Elle Sutphin scored 13 apiece from inside the Qubein Center. Welch, a fifth year senior, shot 4-of-9 from the field while also recording nine rebounds, three steals and three assists.

With the win, the ‘Cats have captured their first season opening victory since defeating Georgetown, 66-52, in November 2019.

The Panthers jumped on the Wildcats in the first quarter of action, building to a 12-4 lead before newcomer Maddie Plank broke the ice with a jumper in the lane. Deegan then closed out the first quarter with her lone three-pointer of the night, cutting Davidson’s deficit to four, 18-14, after 10 minutes of work.

Davidson catapulted past High Point in the second, starting off with a 6-0 run thanks to back-to-back scores from Adelaide Fuller and a pull-up jumper from Welch, before taking a 20-18 lead and the first since opening tip.

From there, the Wildcats forced the Panthers into seven second-quarter turnovers and secured their lead for good, 31-26 at the half.

In the third, the ‘Cats got off to another 7-0 run powered by Welch and Fuller, fueling Davidson’s 66.7 percent shooting effort in the frame. Sophomore Tomisin Adneupe added in four-straight for the Wildcats, as they took a commanding 60-41 lead with 10 minutes left to play.

Although the Panthers outscored Davidson 23-17 in the final quarter, the ‘Cats had created the distance they needed to secure the opening night victory.

Overall, Davidson shot 54.5 percent from the field while HPU narrowly won the battle on the glass, 32-29. The Wildcats got 25 points from the bench and scored 50 in the paint.

Up Next
The Wildcats will return to Belk Arena for their home opener on Saturday, Nov. 12 to take on the Duke Blue Devils. Tip off is slated for 2 p.m.