Radford, Va. . - Radford (2-7) had three players score in double figures and five players grab six or more rebounds as it earned its second victory of the season, 72-56, over Western Carolina (6-6). The Highlanders were led by freshman Serena White’s (Durham, N.C.) game and career high 16 points. Sophomores Shavon Earp (Hampton, Va.) and Sarah Stephens (Hampton, Va.) added 13 and 11 points respectively and each grabbed six boards.
White shot 4-of-5 from the three-point line and 5-11 overall with four boards, three steals and three assists. Three of her treys sparked a 21-5 first half run that gave Radford a commanding 41-26 lead that it would not relinquish. Jennifer Gardner, Jessika Johnson, Sigita Maleraite and Leah Barrier led WCU with seven points apiece. Gardner also corralled a game high nine rebounds.
Radford shot 39.7 percent for the game, 45.7 in the first half, and scored 22 points above its season average. RU also had a strong game on the line, hitting 15-of-16 free throws fro 93.8 percent. The Highlanders picked it up on the defensive end as well, holding Western Carolina 18 points under its season average (74 ppg) and forcing the Lady Catamounts to shoot 31.4 percent from the field, nine percentage points below their average. RU also blocked seven shots, four by freshman Kelli Darden (Chesapeake, Va.), its most since Jan. 11, 2003 when it had nine vs. Winthrop.
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Both teams came out quickly with the Highlanders taking an early 7-6 lead. Radford and the Catamounts cooled off for the next eight minutes, as each team was shooting as low as 25 percent midway through the half. With RU up 16-10, Western Carolina, behind an 11-4 run, took a 21-20 lead on a layup by Ashley Pellom with 6:22 left in the half.
The lead was short lived, as White came down the floor and drained a three 13 second later, starting RU’s decisive 21-5 run, giving them a 41-26 lead with 1:48 to go in the half. Radford hit its first seven shots, four threes, and eight of nine during the run. The Lady Cats responded with an 8-0 spurt to cut the lead to seven, but White hit a runner with four seconds to put the Highlanders up nine (43-34) at halftime.
The momentum from the late spurt by Western Carolina carried over the beginning of the second half. Maleraite hit a three and Johnson put home a layup to get the Lady Catamounts within four at 43-39, but Earp and freshman Corrie Fertitta (Roanoke, Va.) hit back-to-back jumpers to quell WCU’s comeback attempt.
The Catamounts got within seven on two more occasions, but RU pushed the lead to 11 at the 12:18 mark and led by double digits the rest of the game.
The Highlanders outrebounded Western, 47-44, with all nine players for RU grabbing at least two rebounds. Fertitta led the Highs with eight boards with Darden pulling down six. Senior Taryn Causey (Collierville, Tenn.) posted all-around numbers with eight points, a game high eight assists, six rebounds and three steals. Senior Alisha Jones (Mesa, Az.) chipped in with eight points, going 6-for-6 from the charity stripe.
Radford hits the road for its first game of the New Year. The Highlanders travel to Norfolk State on Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. to take on the Spartans.
