HIGH POINT, N.C. - Playing without a point guard for most of the game, the hobbled Charleston Southern Buccaneers dropped their third straight Big South contest to league leader High Point, 84-58, on Monday evening at the Millis Convocation and Athletic Center in High Point.

Shay Jones left the game with an injury near the end of the first half, leaving the Bucs (11-8, 4-4 Big South) without a point guard with teammates Kiki Rutledge and Helen Terry still healing injuries sustained earlier this season.

Head Coach Julie Goodenough's squad was forced to share the point-guard responsibilities for the remainder of the game.

"I am so proud of my players in the way they have learned to handle adversity in games," said Goodenough. "We asked our team to basically play point guard by committee tonight and no one shied away from the task. These are women of character who exhausted themselves for their teammates. We will continue working hard and remain faithful that God has great plans for this team."

Rachelle Coward led all players in scoring with 23 points and was one of three CSU players to finish the night in double figures. Lakeitha Alston went 7-of-8 at the free-throw line on her way to 13 points, while Erin Bratcher added in 10 points as well. The Bucs shot 40.4 percent from the field and made five 3-pointers on the night while committing a season-high 27 turnovers. They were also out-rebounded by the Panthers, 50-25. CSU had 12 steals on the night.

The Panthers placed five players in double figures, with Cheyenne Parker leading the way with 22 points and 17 rebounds. High Point shot 45.2 from the floor and dominated the play inside with 52 points in the paint.

The two teams stayed neck-and-neck for the first five minutes with Alston tying the game on a free-throw and pushing the Bucs ahead with a layup moments later. However, High Point used a 15-2 run to forge ahead, 25-15, with 9:17 to play.

A 3-pointer from Shannon Sanders cut the CSU deficit to seven with two and half minutes to play in the first but High Point closed out the half with a 7-0 run to take the 42-28 lead at half time.

The Panthers controlled the game from then on, pushing the lead to 26 with 12:30 to play in the game. Charleston Southern was able bring the HPU lead down to 20 on a pair of free-throws by Coward but would get no closer down the stretch.

The Bucs will return home for a Saturday league game with in-state foe Coastal Carolina. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at the Buc Dome.