Strong Finish Pushes Highs to Seventh Straight Victory

Radford, Va. . - Radford (8-7, 2-0 Big South) closed out the final 4:16 with an 18-0 run to comeback and win its seventh straight game, 55-41, over Coastal Carolina (4-9, 0-2) this evening from the Dedmon Center. The Highlanders trailed by as much as 10 in the second half, but used a stifling defense that held the Lady Chanticleers to just four points over the final 11:30 of the game. RU’s seven-game streak is the longest since it won seven in-a-row during the 1993-94 season.

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Coastal used an 11-2 run, behind six points from Kim Turner, to open the second half and take a 35-25 lead at the 14:01 mark. At 13:34, senior Taryn Causey (Collierville, Tenn.) hit a three to make it 35-28. With that bucket, the Highlanders would outscore the Lady Chants, 30-6, including the 18-0 closing run, the rest of the game. During the closing surge, RU’s defense forced CCU to just 10.5 percent (2-19) from the field and to miss its final 16 shots.

Causey, the reigning Big South Player of the Week, netted 19 points, going 9-of-11 from the line, with seven rebounds and five steals. Sophomore Shavon Earp (Hampton, Va.) chipped in with 13 points, while freshman Kelli Darden (Chesapeake, Va.) recorded a career high seven blocks. The Highs blocked 10 shots for the game and forced 24 turnovers.

Coastal’s Jasmine Tyler led the Lady Chants with 12 points and Turner added 11 points and seven rebounds. CCU became the first team to outrebound the Highlanders in nine games, holding a 45-39 advantage on the glass.

The Lady Chants started the game the same way they began the second half, running out to a 10-4 lead 4:05 into the contest. The Highlanders battled back with an 8-2 spurt to tie the score at 12. CCU regained the lead, 15-12, but RU went on another 8-2 run to take a 20-17 lead at 4:34. The Lady Chants outscored RU 7-2 for the rest of the half to be up to at the break, 24-22.

Neither team shot well from the field with Coastal shooting 32 percent and Highs only 29 percent. RU forced CCU into 24 turnovers and had 14 steals, while only turning the ball over 15 times.

Radford conclude its six-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 22 when it hosts Birmingham-Southern at 4 pm. Coastal Carolina will be back in action on Saturday as well, when it travels to Winthrop for a 2 pm game.