HIGH POINT, N.C. (Interstat) — The High Point Panthers used a dominant first quarter and a stellar performance from Aaliyah Collins to remain undefeated, defeating the East Carolina Pirates 84-68 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Sunday at Qubein Arena.

Collins, a 5-foot-6 guard from Snohomish, Washington, poured in 27 points and dished out seven assists to lead the Panthers, who improved to 4-0. Her backcourt partner, Macy Spencer of Katy, Texas, added 20 points.

The Panthers seized control from the opening tip, racing out to a 24-8 lead after the first quarter. High Point shot a blistering 9 for 20 from three-point range for the game and capitalized on East Carolina’s mistakes, scoring 21 points off 14 Pirates turnovers. East Carolina, by contrast, managed only four points off nine High Point turnovers.

East Carolina (2-2) was led by Anzhane’ Hutton, who recorded a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Kennedy Fauntleroy added 17 points for the Pirates, who struggled to find an offensive rhythm against a stifling High Point defense that recorded seven steals.

Despite the early deficit, the Pirates showed resilience, outscoring High Point 16-15 in the second quarter and 27-22 in the third to trim the lead to 61-51 heading into the final period. A key factor in their attempted comeback was a massive advantage on the offensive glass, where they hauled in 18 rebounds compared to just two for the Panthers.

However, the Panthers’ offensive efficiency proved too much to overcome. High Point shot 29 of 54 from the floor, good for 53.7%, while East Carolina managed just 24 of 69, a 34.8% clip. The Panthers also assisted on seven of their baskets, demonstrating a fluid ball-moving offense, while the Pirates managed only two assists for the entire contest.

High Point re-established its dominance in the fourth quarter, closing the game on a 23-17 run to secure the 16-point victory. Anna Hager, a 6-foot forward from Norrbotten, Sweden, provided a strong interior presence for the Panthers with 11 points and seven rebounds. Nevaeh Zavala of Plano, Texas, contributed six points and three blocks, anchoring the Panthers’ defense.

For East Carolina, Jayla Hearp scored nine points and Savannah Brooks pulled down six rebounds. The Pirates’ offensive rating of 92.5 on 74 possessions paled in comparison to High Point’s mark of 114.5 on 73 possessions, underscoring the Panthers’ superior execution.

The game was played in front of an announced crowd of 967. East Carolina will look to rebound when they host Old Dominion on Friday. High Point, continuing its strong start to the season, will host Vermont on Wednesday.