High Point Ends Highlanders' Home Streak at Nine, 82-62

Radford, Va. . -Candyce Sellars netted a game high 21 points and High Point shot 50 percent (32-64) from the field as it defeated Radford, 84-64, from the Dedmon Center this evening. The second place Panthers improve to 15-11 overall and 10-3 in the Big South. The Highlanders fall to 12-14 overall and 6-7 in the Conference and back into a fourth place tie with Charleston Southern. Radford’s nine-game home-winning streak was snapped in the process.

Sellars shot lights out from the field, going 8-for-11 overall and 5-for-8 from three-point land, hitting her first five attempts. Katie O’Dell recorded a double double with 16 points and a game high 12 rebounds, with Katie Ralls chipping in with 14 points, going 8-for-9 from the line.

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Senior Taryn Causey (Collierville, Tenn.) and freshman Kelli Darden (Chesapeake, Va.) paced four Highlanders in double figures with 13 points apiece. Causey went a perfect 7-for-7 from the line, while Darden corralled a team best seven rebounds and swatted three shots. With those blocks, she moves into third in a single season at Radford with 53.

High Point shot 50 percent in the first half and forced 13 Radford turnover to take a 40-25 lead into halftime. Sellars led all scorers with 13 points on a perfect 5-of-5 from the field. The Panthers took a quick 5-0 lead, before Radford responded to go up 6-5. HPU would go on a 9-0 run to take a 14-6 advantage and never trail again.

The Highlanders would cut it to 14-11, their closest they would get, with 10:55 to go, but the Panthers went on an 18-7 run to take a commanding, 32-18 lead with 5:30 left in the half. Radford cut it to 10 at 32-22 on a pair of free throw from Darden, but the Panthers outscored RU, 8-5 in the final 3:21 to take the 15-point advantage into the locker rom.

In the second half, HPU quickly pushed its lead to 21 after back-to-back three by Sellars. Radford tried to mount a comeback, but each time the Highlanders made a small run, the Panthers answered on the offensive end. RU could get not closer than 12 the rest of the game, as High Point made 12-of-13 free throws in the final 5:46.

Also in double figures for the Highlanders were sophomores Sarah Stephens (Hampton, Va.) and Shavon Earp (Hampton, Va.) with 10 apiece.

The Panthers controlled the boards, outrebounding RU, 44-29. Along with O’Dell’s 12, Amber Manuel grabbed nine for High Point. Radford shot 36 percent for the game and turned the ball over 18 times. The Panthers had 19 turnover and shot 86.7 percent (13-15) from the line and 46.7 percent (7-for-15) from behind the arc.

Radford concludes the regular season on Saturday when they host Liberty at 7 pm on senior night. The Panthers entertain the Winthrop Eagles at 7 pm as well.