HIGH POINT, N.C. (Interstat) — The surging High Point Panthers, owners of the Big South’s best record, will look to continue their dominant conference run when they host the Winthrop Eagles at Qubein Arena on Wednesday.

High Point (16-2, 5-0 Big South) has won nine straight games, including a 68-54 road victory at Longwood on Saturday. The Panthers have won their five conference games by an average margin of 26.2 points, showcasing a stifling defense that has held league opponents to just 49.2 points per game. They are led by standout guard Macy Spencer, who is averaging 21.8 points over her last five contests. She scored 22 points with five assists in the win over Longwood.

Winthrop (10-10, 3-3) arrives after a narrow 67-65 home loss to Radford, a game in which Cori Lard scored 17 points. Lard has been a consistent force for the Eagles, reaching double figures in scoring in five of her last seven games. The Eagles have shown resilience in close conference games, with three of their Big South wins coming by six points or fewer, including a 66-64 victory at South Carolina Upstate on Jan. 7.

The matchup presents a stark contrast in momentum. High Point’s only losses this season came in non-conference play against Davidson and in a double-overtime thriller against Yale. Winthrop has struggled against high-major competition, with losses to Tennessee, Virginia and Charlotte, but has proven capable within the Big South.

Wednesday’s game is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They will meet again in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Feb. 4. For Winthrop, containing Spencer and overcoming High Point’s defensive pressure will be the primary challenge. For the Panthers, the task is to avoid a letdown against a .500 team and protect their perfect league record on their home floor.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST Wednesday at Qubein Arena.