High Point won. Honestly, if you were watching the Big South women's basketball tournament 2025 at the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, you saw a masterclass in grit. It wasn't always pretty. In fact, for about thirty minutes of the championship game, it looked like Longwood was going to pull off the ultimate spoiler.
The Panthers trailed by five going into the fourth quarter. Five points doesn't sound like much until you're staring down the end of your season and the rim starts feeling like it’s the size of a thimble. But Chelsea Banbury’s squad didn't blink. They outscored Longwood 17-6 in the final ten minutes to secure a 59-53 victory and their second-ever ticket to the Big Dance.
The High Point Comeback
Jaleesa Lawrence was the heartbeat of that run. She ended up as the tournament MVP, and you could see why during the fourth-quarter surge. It wasn't just the 12 points or the seven boards; it was the way she and Nevaeh Zavala kept the team steady when things got chaotic.
Zavala was huge. She put up 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. That's a double-double on the biggest stage of her career. Aaliyah Collins added 10 points and five steals, basically making life miserable for the Longwood backcourt.
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Why Johnson City Mattered
This was the first time the tournament moved to Tennessee. Freedom Hall Civic Center, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, provided a different vibe than the usual North Carolina or South Carolina sites.
The bracket was top-heavy.
- High Point (1 seed)
- Longwood (2 seed)
- Radford (3 seed)
- Charleston Southern (4 seed)
Radford and Charleston Southern were the "what if" teams of the week. Radford actually had a solid lead in their semifinal against Longwood before the Lancers' Amor Harris took over. Harris was a nightmare to guard all week, eventually landing a spot on the All-Tournament team alongside her teammate Otaifo Esenabhalu.
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The Chaos of the Early Rounds
The Big South women's basketball tournament 2025 actually started with a bit of a grind. UNC Asheville, the 9th seed, managed to knock off Presbyterian in the opening round 69-63. It was a brief moment of hope for the Bulldogs before they ran into the High Point buzzsaw in the quarterfinals. High Point beat them 85-57. It wasn't close.
Winthrop also provided a spark. They entered as the 5 seed and squeezed past Charleston Southern 48-45 in a game that was essentially a defensive slugfest. If you like high-scoring, transition basketball, that wasn't it. But if you like watching players dive for loose balls and fight for every inch of paint, it was a gem.
Key Stats and Standouts
High Point's path was defined by their defense. They held Winthrop to 49 points in the semifinals. Then they held a very good Longwood team to 53 in the final.
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| Player | Team | Tournament Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Jaleesa Lawrence | High Point | Tournament MVP; clutch 4th quarter buckets |
| Nevaeh Zavala | High Point | Double-double in the championship game |
| Amor Harris | Longwood | Leading scorer for the runners-up |
| Aaliyah Collins | High Point | Defensive anchor with 5 steals in the final |
One thing most people forget about this tournament is how much the regular season standings predicted the outcome. High Point finished 13-3 in the conference. They came in on a six-game winning streak. Momentum is real in March. You can't just flip a switch if you've been losing in February.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The conference is already looking toward next year. High Point is returning several key pieces, including Zavala, who was recently named the Preseason Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season.
Longwood isn't going away either. They made the WNIT last year and clearly have the talent to challenge for the top spot. The rivalry between High Point and Longwood is becoming the premier matchup in the Big South. They played twice in the regular season and once in the tournament final, with High Point barely scraping by in the most important one.
If you're following the Big South women's basketball tournament 2025, you know it’s about more than just the trophy. It’s about the automatic bid. High Point is heading back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021. Back then, they had to play UConn. It didn't go well. This time, with a more experienced roster and a defense that doesn't quit, they're looking to actually make some noise.
Actionable Takeaways for Big South Fans
To stay ahead of the curve for the rest of the 2025-26 season, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the Schedule: High Point and Longwood meet again on January 17, 2026, and February 11, 2026. These games will likely determine the top seed for the next tournament.
- Monitor the Newcomers: Keep an eye on Winthrop's Amourie Porter. She was the Newcomer of the Year and is a dark horse for the 2026 scoring title.
- Check the Venue: The Big South often rotates locations. While Johnson City was a success, stay tuned for 2026 site announcements which often shift back toward the North Carolina hub.
- Follow the Defense: In the Big South, the team that allows fewer than 60 points wins nearly 85% of the time. If a team like Radford improves their shooting percentage, they could jump into that top two.