DAYTON - The University of Dayton women's basketball team will make its third trip to Florida this season to take part in the West Palm Beach Invitational Dec. 20-21. The Flyers will open with High Point University on Monday, Dec. 20 at 3:30 p.m. before taking on Clemson the following day at the same time. Both games will be streamed live on FloHoops.com.

SCOUTING THE FLYERS
Dayton returns to the Sunshine State with a 6-3 record overall and 1-1 record in neutral site games. The Flyers previously competed in the Daytona Beach Invitational where they fell to Mississippi State before defeating Illinois.

Head coach Shauna Green is in her sixth season in charge of the Flyers and was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year 2020, her second time at UD. She earned her 100th win at Dayton in the regular season final last year.

As a team this year, Dayton is scoring 66.2 points per game and holding opponents to 59.2 points each outing. The Flyers are shooting 39.4 percent overall, 37.6 percent from three point range, and 63.6 percent from the free throw line. UD has +3.7 rebounding and +1.4 turnover margins.

Dayton is led by sophomore Makira Cook with 15.9 points per game while graduate students Erin Whalen and Jenna Giacone are chipping in 14.2 points and 12.9 points per outing respectively.

SCOUTING HIGH POINT
High Point heads to Florida with a 3-6 record on the year and has won just one game in its last six contests. The Panthers are 0-4 away from home this year and will play their first neutral site contest against the Flyers

Head coach Chelsea Banbury is in her second season in charge of HPU and led the Panthers to the Big South regular season and tournament championships in 2020-21. She came to High Point after 11 seasons at Florida Gulf Coast.

This season, High Point is averaging 62.2 points each outing and giving up 63.7 points to opponents. The Panthers are shooting 36.3 percent from the floor, 27.1 percent from behind the arc, and 68.5 percent from the charity stripe. HPU faces a -11.5 rebounding margin, but is forcing 7.5 more turnovers per game.

The Panthers were led by reigning Big South Player of the Year Skyler Curran, but she only appeared in the season opener this year. Jaden Wrightsell has stepped in though and is averaging 13.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while Jenson Edwards is contributing 11.3 points and 5.1 boards each outing.

LAST TIME OUT
Dayton went on the road to Florida and were unable to complete the rally in a 60-57 loss to the Gators. The Flyers started off the fourth with an 11-0 run and UF did not score until the final two minutes, but were able to fend off the UD comeback.

High Point traveled to No. 16 South Florida and were defeated 62-46 Friday. The Panthers were outscored in each quarter, including 15-9 in the final period. Jenson Edwards had a team-high 17 points in the effort.

THE SERIES
Dayton and High Point have met just one time previously back on March 21, 1979 at the AIAW Tournament with the Flyers coming out on top 75-65 in Fargo, N.D. That was en route to a National Runner-Up finish for UD and a year before they won the AIAW national title.

STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Dayton ranks 18th nationally in fewest turnovers per game and 20th in three point field goal percentage. Individually, Tenin Magassa is 46th in the country in blocked shots per game while Makira Cook is 56th in Division I in field goal attempts.

SHOUP HILL NAMED A-10 ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Freshman forward Brynn Shoup-Hill was named A-10 Rookie of the Week on Dec. 6 for her efforts in wins over Florida A&M and Illinois St. The Goshen, Ind. native had a breakout performance with a career-high 14 points, going 4-of-4 from three and 2-of-2 from the free throw line along with three rebounds in the win Sunday. She finished the week with an 8.5 points per game average and only missed one shot over the two-game stretch last week, both wins for the Flyers.

COOK EARNS ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM HONORS AT DAYTONA BEACH INVITATIONAL
Sophomore guard Makira Cook was named to the All-Tournament Team as well as Player of the Game in the win over Illinois, capping off a productive weekend at the Daytona Beach Invitational. Cook averaged 18.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game without committing a turnover and shooting 46.2 percent from three.

UP NEXT
The Flyers will finish up the West Palm Beach Invitational Tuesday against Clemson at 3:30 p.m. The game will take place at Palm Beach State College.