Zavala has double-double, High Point rallies past Longwood 59-53 for Big South title, 2nd NCAA berth
Without point guard Nakyah Terrell, who was injured in the semifinal game, the top-seeded Panthers struggled offensively for most of the game before finding a way to pull it out.
Earlier in the day the High Point men earned their first NCAA berth with a big second half rally.
Jaleesa Lawrence added 12 points for High Point (21-11), which ran its winning streak to nine games heading to its first Big Dance since 2021. Lauren Scott had 11 points, including a clutch 3-pointer in the fourth quarter and three free throws in the closing seconds.
Malea Brown had 14 points and 10 rebounds for second-seeded Longwood (22-11), whose only NCAA appearance came in 2022.
For the most part the game lacked any offensive continuity but Zavala had a three-point play to start a little surge that Scott finished with a rare High Point 3-pointer for its big lead of 54-48 and first lead since the first quarter.
Longwood shot 56% in the first half, making 6 of 7 3-pointers, for a 35-32 lead but the Lancers shot 23% from after intermission and missed all three 3s. They also finished with a season-high 25 turnovers.
Highwood shot just 39%, including a 3 of 18 performance behind the arc but made 12 of 14 free throws and had just 17 turnovers against a team that forces 25 a game.
Longwood led 35-32 at the half and 47-42 entering the fourth quarter.
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