Rickman’s Career Night Not Enough as Highlanders Bow in OT to Panthers
Senior Posts 18 point-18 rebound double double

RADFORD, Va. - Radford University (5-11) dropped a hard fought battle in overtime to Birmingham Southern (7-8), 69-67 at the Dedmon Center this evening. Despite a career night of 18 points and 18 rebounds from Sherri Rickman (Roanoke, Va.), BSC’s Lindsay Boyett helped the Panthers pull out their first win over the Highlanders. The junior scored seven of her 19 points in the last two minutes of regulation, including a deep three-pointer with 9.5 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

With Radford up 62-58 after a pair of Amanda Neby (Plymouth, Minn.) free throws, BSC’s Ricka Spears would grab a critical offensive rebound an get fouled on the next possession. She would make the first and miss the second. After Radford was unable to corral the rebound, BSC got the ball back underneath their own hoop with 12 seconds left. On the ensuing inbounds play, Neby came up with a near steal, but the ball went right to Atia Agee, who dished the ball to Boyett for the tying bucket. box score

The Panthers momentum carried into the extra period as they scored the first four points and never looked back. After cutting the lead to 69-67, the Highlanders had two opportunities to tie the game in the final 22 seconds. After BSC missed consecutive front ends of one-and-ones, RU would turn the ball over on their first possession and a three-point attempt was blocked at the buzzer. Five of BSC’s seven points came off of offensive rebounds.

Neby finished with a game high 20 points and grabbed 13 boards for her fifth double double of the season. Rickman’s 18 boards were the most by a Highlander since Jen Grant grabbed a conference record 23 against Coastal Carolina on Feb. 5, 2000. It also moved her into 15th all-time with 484 career rebounds. Candace Byrd added 15, while Spears posted nine points and nine boards.

In the first half BSC jumped out to an 8-2 lead behind a pair of Boyett three’s. Radford would eventually claw back into the game, tying it a 19 with 8:30 to go. The Highlanders then went on a 14-4 run to close out the half and take a 33-23 lead into the lockerroom.

Radford extended their lead to 37-25 at the 18:42 mark of the second half. The Panthers then went on a 16-3 run, sparked by eight points by Brooke Gentsch, to grab 41-40 lead with 10:52 left. The lead would change hands five times over the next six minutes. Radford went up by five with 1:46 to go, but were unable to hold on as BSC closed out regulation on an 8-3 run.

Jesse Brunjak (Ooltewah, Tenn.) chipped in with 12 points and seven boards, while Cody Silker (Fairmont, Minn.) dished out a game high six assists and did not turn the ball over in 37 minutes. The Highlanders won the battle on the boards (48-40), but turned ball over 16 times, which led to 19 BSC points, while the Panthers only turned the ball over 10 times.

The Highlanders are back on the road when they travel to Lynchburg on Sat., Jan. 25 to face Liberty at 6:00 p.m.