Radford, Va. . - In an exciting game from the Dedmon Center, Radford (1-5) was edged in overtime, 60-58, by Gardner-Webb (3-3) this afternoon. The Highlanders erased a seven-point deficit late in the game to send it into the extra session, but Jasmin Morris spoiled the comeback effort, hitting the game-winning layup with 1:43 to go in overtime. RU had four chances in the final minute but were unable to capitalize and Gardner-Webb squeaked out the victory.
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Senior Taryn Causey (Collierville, Tenn.) led all scorers with 18 points, while senior Alisha Jones (Mesa, Az.) pulled down a career best 12 rebounds to go along with six points. Candyse Kelly topped the scoring charts for Gardner-Webb, posting 13 points and a game high five steals. The Bulldogs, who had a decisive rebounding edge, 55-43, were led by Crissy Guzman and Shameka Smith with 13 and 12 respectively.
The Highlanders came out strong scoring the first eight points of the game before Smith hit a layup for at the 14:12 mark to put the Bulldogs on the board. Radford opened its largest lead of the game, 16-5, after a pair of free throws by freshman Kelli Darden (Chesapeake, Va.) with 10:50 to go.
Radford remained in control before the Bulldogs chipped away at the lead in the final 5:43 of the first half. GWU, behind seven points from Morris, cut the lead to three, 31-28, with a 14-7 run to close out the half. Causey led RU at the break with nine points. Morris had seven to lead the Bulldogs. GWU also controlled the glass, 27-16, including 16 offensive boards.
After the teams traded a few buckets to open the second half, GWU went on a 13-2 run, capped off by a Sequenta Blackman three, to take a 45-38 lead at 9:30. Radford cut the lead to three with just under four minutes to go but the Bulldogs responded with four points to regain their seven-point advantage, 51-44 with 2:36 remaining.
Senior Jesse Brunjak (Ooltewah, Tenn.) started the rally, hitting two free throws at 1:33 to make it 51-46. After three straight free throw misses on one-and-ones by the Bulldogs, Causey came down and hit a three, her first points of the second half, to cut the lead to 51-49 with 53 second to go.
On the next possession, Gardner-Webb’s Katie Gravel drew a foul with just two seconds on the shot clock, but missed both free throws giving the Highlanders one last opportunity. After RU called a time out, Causey penetrated and dished off to Jones for the tying bucket with four seconds on the clock. GWU did not get a shot off and the game went into overtime.
In the overtime session, Causey started with a three giving RU the early three-point advantage. Kelly came up big for GWU, scoring the next five points to put the Bulldogs up two, 56-54. Causey responded on the next possession with another three, her fifth of the game, to give RU a 57-56 lead. Jones made one of two free throws to put RU up 58-56 with 2:38 to go, but Guzman hit a layup on the next possession to tie the game and after miss by the Highlanders, Morris hit the layup for the win.
Sarah Stephens (Hampton, Va.) chipped in with eight points for RU, while Brunjak and freshman Serena White (Durham, N.C.) added seven. White also had a team high four steals. Gravel and Morris finished the game with nine points apiece for the Bulldogs.
Radford will be off for final exams this week and will return on Tuesday, Dec. 21 when they host Kent State at 7 p.m.
