JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Interstat) — The High Point Panthers used a dominant second and third quarter to pull away from the Winthrop Eagles and secure a 79-63 victory in a Big South Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at ETSU Athletic Center.

The game, played before an announced attendance of 1, solidified High Point’s position as a conference powerhouse, improving its record to 26-5 overall. Winthrop concluded its regular season at 15-17.

The contest turned decisively in the second period. After a competitive first quarter that saw Winthrop lead 14-11, the Panthers unleashed a 24-9 run in the second frame. High Point’s defense stifled the Eagles, forcing a series of turnovers and contested shots, while their offense found a rhythm from beyond the arc and in transition. The surge gave High Point a 35-23 halftime advantage, a lead they would not relinquish.

Any hope of a Winthrop comeback was extinguished in the third quarter as High Point continued its offensive onslaught, outscoring the Eagles 30-21. The Panthers’ backcourt duo proved too much to handle, consistently breaking down the defense and creating high-percentage scoring opportunities. By the start of the fourth quarter, High Point’s lead had ballooned to 65-44, allowing them to manage the clock and secure the win despite a late push from Winthrop.

The most important part of the game was High Point’s overwhelming 54-30 scoring advantage across the middle two quarters. This 16-minute stretch transformed a tight, three-point game into a commanding 21-point Panther lead, effectively deciding the outcome long before the final buzzer. Winthrop, which had shown resilience in recent wins, had no answer for the surge, as High Point’s execution on both ends of the floor highlighted the gap between the teams on this occasion.

High Point was led by a stellar performance from junior guard Macy Spencer of Katy, Texas. Spencer scored a game-high 25 points in 32 minutes, connecting on multiple three-pointers and adding two assists. She was complemented by sophomore guard Aaliyah Collins of Snohomish, Washington, who contributed 15 points and four assists. The Panthers’ interior presence was bolstered by freshman forward Peyton Gerdes of Lake Villa, Illinois, who scored 12 points and recorded two blocks.

Winthrop’s effort was spearheaded by junior guard Amourie Porter of Glen Burnie, Maryland, who fought for 19 points, three assists, and several rebounds in 35 minutes. Senior guard Cori Lard of Davenport, Iowa, added 14 points and a team-high five assists in 38 minutes of action.

The victory followed the predictive models, as High Point entered the game with a significant probability to win according to advanced metrics. The Panthers also swept the regular-season series, having previously defeated Winthrop 88-74 on Feb. 4 and 74-60 on Jan. 21.

The game concluded the regular season for both teams, with attention now turning to the upcoming Big South Conference tournament.