GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Radford women’s basketball program fell on the road Wednesday morning to UNC Greensboro by a final score of 72-54. Vanessa Blake had a career-day for the Highlanders, reaching the 20-point mark for the first time.
The Highlanders got off to a good start in the morning match-up with the Spartans. Despite back-to-back three-pointers by the Spartans to get the education day crowd on their side, the Highlanders responded with a 9-0 run fueled by Blake’s first points of the day and a big three-pointer by Olivia Wagner. That gave Radford an early 11-9 edge.
Blake would score the final five points of the first quarter to ensure a Highlander lead through the first ten minutes 16-13. A pair of made jumpers by Rachel LaLonde and Trinity Klock extended that lead even further in the second quarter to 20-13. UNC Greensboro found their offense again with an 8-0 run to retake the lead and then another 8-2 run to make it a 29-22 lead for the Spartans.
Wagner hit another big three to stop the run and pull back within four points, but UNC Greensboro would hold on to their lead over the final minute of the quarter for a 32-27 advantage at the break. Turnovers proved to be a killer for the Highlanders in the quarter, as the team turned the ball over eight times compared to just one by the Spartans.
The dry run continued into the third quarter as UNC Greensboro built their lead to as large as 17. In the fourth quarter, Radford didn’t go away quietly and attempted a late comeback. Blake had her biggest quarter of the day with nine points while Carmen Williams and Tatiana Beaumont also supplied a pair of three-pointers. Radford also won the turnover battle in the final quarter, forcing four Spartan turnovers. The late push wasn’t enough, however, as UNC Greensboro held on to win 72-54.
BLAKE SETS NEW CAREER BEST
Blake supplied a break-out performance today for the Highlanders with a new career-high of 20 points which blasted past her original best mark of 14 points set last season. Blake reached the double-digit total despite appearing in just 27 minutes of play. Blake’s four rebounds were also a season-high for the sophomore.
IMPROVEMENT AT THE CHARITY STRIPE
Radford battled back today from some struggles at the free throw line in the early going of the 2022-23 season. The team went 13-17 (77%) from the free throw line today with eight of those makes coming from Blake. Ashlyn Traylor and Ashley Panem were also both perfect from the line, combining to go 4-4.
UP NEXT
The Highlanders will have about a week to regroup and prepare for the longest streak of home games listed on this season’s schedule. Next Tuesday, November 22nd, Radford will be back inside the Dedmon Center to host Bluefield State, the first of four-straight home games. Tip is set for 7 p.m. and action will be streamed on ESPN+.
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