High Point Panthers Win Back-to-Back Big South Titles, Beat Radford 71-67

High Point held on for a 71-67 victory over Radford at Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City to capture its second straight Big South Conference tournament title and secure an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. The win completes a 27-5 season for the Panthers as reported after the championship.

According to the AP: "Aaliyah Collins had 21 points, Anna Hager scored 18 and High Point held on for a 71-67 victory over Radford on Sunday night to win the Big South Conference Championship and earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season." Radford’s Joi Williams poured in 30 points and Ellie Taylor added 10 as Radford finished 22-12 in the AP account. Macy Spencer, the league's leading scorer at 18.8 per game, was held to six points in the title game.

The championship featured multiple momentum swings. High Point opened with an 8-0 run after Hager hit a 3-pointer and Brecken Snotherly followed with a three-point play. Radford battled back to tie it 16-all on an Angelina Nice tip-in before Collins sank two free throws with one second left in the half to put High Point up by two. Kirah Dandridge’s two first-half 3-pointers helped Radford lead 32-29 at the break. In the third quarter Hager’s 3 sparked a 13-2 run capped by a Spencer triple that gave High Point a 46-41 edge; that run stretched to 20-4 and the Panthers led 56-45 entering the fourth. Williams hit back-to-back threes in the late fourth and drove for a layup to knot the score 63-all with 4:50 remaining, but Collins and Hager answered with back-to-back baskets to close out the victory.

High Point’s path to the final included a 79-63 semifinal win over Winthrop at Freedom Hall. High Point’s official recap noted Macy Spencer tied the Big South Conference Tournament Semifinal record with six 3-point field goals and finished with 25 points, Aaliyah Collins added 15, Peyton Gerdes had 12 off the bench and Dom Nesland 10. The Panthers, listed at 26-5 after that game, forced 17 turnovers, grabbed 11 offensive rebounds and outscored Winthrop 38-26 in the paint, the official site reported. The team’s social feed captured the hot stretch, posting, "Like clockwork ?? Spencer has 20 of the Panthers' 45 points! March 8, 2026."

In the quarterfinals High Point dispatched USC Upstate 71-53, building a 49-25 halftime lead. Hpenews reported Macy Spencer scored 20 points, making 5 of 8 from the field with four 3-pointers and 6 of 6 from the foul line, while Nevaeh Zavala added 18 points and five rebounds. Paxtonmedia noted the Panthers made 12 three-pointers in that game, shot 54 percent in the first half (38 percent for the game) and forced 17 turnovers while committing eight.

The tournament title is High Point’s second straight Big South crown and the program’s third NCAA Tournament trip overall, with prior appearances including 2021. ESPN and the Big South’s official account circulated highlights of the Panthers’ run, and AP noted High Point’s men’s team also advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers leave Johnson City as conference champions and will represent the Big South in the NCAA field.