Radford, Va. . - Radford shot 57 percent from the field, and used a big second half run to defeat Birmingham-Southern and win its eighth straight game, 67-45, from the Dedmon Center this afternoon. The Highlanders had five players in double figures and held its fourth consecutive opponent under 50 points, as they improved to 9-7 overall and 3-0 in the Big South. BSC falls to 5-9, 0-2 in the Conference.
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The winning streak is the longest since it won nine in-a-row during the 1992-93 season. The victory also concluded an undefeated six-game homestand and extended the Highlanders home streak to seven games.
Radford opened the second half in which it shot 64 percent with a three to push its lead to 29-19. BSC climbed back into the game courtesy of a 14-2 run to grab its first and only lead of the game, 33-31 after a pair of Pam Thornborrow free throws at the 15:39 mark. The Highlanders responded with a 22-6 run over the next 8:17 to take command of the game, 55-39. During the run, freshman Kelli Darden (Chesapeake, Va.) scored eight points, all on layups, as she took control down low. The Highlanders cruised from there to the 22-point win.
Darden finished the game with 12 points, on 6-of-7 shooting, four rebounds and three blocks. Senior Taryn Causey (Collierville, Tenn.) led all scorers with 15 points, six assists and six steals. Freshman Corrie Fertitta (Roanoke, Va.) added 14 points, a team best six rebounds, three steals and three blocks.
Stacey Anthony led the Panthers with 10 points. Martina Knotkova and Crystal Reed chipped with seven and six points respectively, while grabbing a team high six rebounds apiece.
The Highlanders, who shot 50 percent in the first half, jumped out of the gates to take a 9-2 lead. After BSC cut the lead to 9-7 on a three by Anthony, RU went on a 13-3 run to grab a 22-10 advantage with 6:39 to go. The Panthers cut the lead to 22-17 with a 7-0 spurt. During that time, they held the Highlanders scoreless for just under five minutes and forced six turnovers with a full court press. Despite that, RU would take a 26-19 lead at the half.
Radford outrebounded BSC, 34-29 and held the Panthers to just 29 percent shooting. Birmingham-Southern forced 21 turnovers and had 11 steals, while RU forced 18 turnovers and had 13 thefts.
Senior Alisha Jones (Mesa, Az), going 5-for-5 from the field, and sophomore Shavon Earp (Hampton, Va.) chipped in with 11 points apiece, rounding out the five double figure scorers for the Highlanders. It marked the first time RU had five players in double figures since Dec. 17, 2002 in an 80-67 victory at Campbell.
Radford hits the road for the first time since Dec. 3 when they face UNC-Asheville on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 7 pm. The Panthers head up to Lynchburg, Va. on Monday to face the Lady Flames at 6 pm.
