Highlanders Down IPFW for Fourth Staight Victory

Radford, Va. . - In a tightly contested ballgame, four Highlanders scored in double figures and Radford (5-7) used a late spurt to defeat IPFW (2-13), 78-69, from the Dedmon Center this evening. Down one with 6:06 to go in the game, Radford used an 8-1 spurt to take the lead for good and hold off the Mastadons for its fourth straight victory.

The Highlanders were led by senior Taryn Causey’s (Collierville, Tenn.) game high 22 points and six assists. It was her third straight 20-point game and she also scored her 500th career point at Radford when she hit a pair of free throws with nine seconds left in the game. IPFW’s Johnna Lewis-Carlisle led the Mastadons with 18 points on 4-of-4 shooting from behind the arc.

For the Highlanders, sophomore Shavon Earp (Hampton, Va.) tallied a career high 18 points and reigning Big South Freshman of the Week Corrie Fertitta (Roanoke, Va.) posted her first double double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Mastadon Verea Bibbs also recorded a double double with 14 points and 11 boards to go along with a game high three blocks. Ashley Johnson chipped in with 16 points and team best three steals

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The first half was back-and-forth with IPFW taking a 33-29 lead into the locker room behind 52 percent shooting and 14 points from Lewis-Carlisle. Lewis-Carlisle was on fire, draining all four three-point attempts and hitting 5-of-8 field goals. The half featured eight ties and seven lead changes. Neither team held more than a four-point lead. Radford was able to hang around forcing 10 turnovers as it only shot 30 percent from the field.

In the second half, the Mastadons took an early five-point lead (39-34) with 17:44 to go. Radford used a 7-0 run to take a short lived 41-39 lead with just under 15 minutes left. Over the next 8:51, there were seven ties and three lead changes.

A layup by Bibbs and a free throw by Kelly Boyd gave the Mastadons their final lead of the game at 55-54 with 6:06 to go. The Highlander then went on their crucial spurt, taking a 62-56 lead with 4:19 to go. IPFW cut the lead to two on a pair of occasions but Earp hit a jumper on the next possession and Radford nailed 12-of-14 free throws in the final 2:24 to ice the game.

The Highlanders finished the game with a big advantage on the line hitting a season high 28-of-38 freebees, while the Mastadon hit just 7-of-14. RU outrebounded IPFW, 42-35 and both teams committed 13 turnovers, a season low fro the Highlanders. RU finished the night shooting 39 percent, 52 in the second half, while IPFW shot 44 percent.

Senior Jesse Brunjak (Ooltewah, Tenn.) was the fourth Highlander in double figures with 10 points. Freshman Kelli Darden (Chesapeake, Va.) chipped in with eight points, seven boards, two assists and two blocks.

Radford returns to the Dedmon Center on Thursday, Jan. 13 to host Southern Virginia in its final non-conference game at 7 pm. IPFW returns home on Tuesday, Jan. 18 to host Youngstown State at 7 pm.