RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women’s basketball team (17-11, 9-4 BSC) just never got going on the offensive end and dropped a 57-52 decision to USC Upstate on Wednesday night at the Dedmon Center.
KEY STATS
- After shooting better than 50 percent the previous two games, the Highlanders shot just 24.6 percent from the field (16-65) and 28.6 percent from three-point land (6-21).
- Radford won the battle in the paint 18-16 and forced 23 turnovers while committing just six.
- Only five Highlanders scored in the game. The Spartans held Radford forwards to just four points.
- USC Upstate dominated the boards in the first half, outrebounding the Highlanders 31-12.
- Joi Williams led all scorers with 18 points.
PLAY BY PLAY
The Spartans took control out of the gates, scoring each of the first six points. That’s when Ellie Taylor and Cate Carlson got going, scoring underneath and from the free throw line to give the Highlanders a brief 8-6 lead. Spartan bigs got back to work and got several second chances to jump back in front. Taylor scored the final points of the first quarter to make it a three-point game after 10 minutes.
USC Upstate once again scored the first six points of the second quarter to make it 20-11. Williams hit back-to-back three-pointers to force the Spartans into a timeout, making it 20-17 with 7:03 left before half. That’s when the Spartan defense held firm, holding Radford without a basket until Cherish Haywood’s three-pointer with two seconds left. USC Upstate led by double-digits, 33-22, at the break.
Radford came out like they were an entirely different team in the second half, with Carlson scoring several baskets, including a three-pointer after a forced five-second inbound violation, to make it 33-30 just a couple minutes out of half. The Highlanders weathered a USC Upstate response, as Williams scored on a fantastic drive to the hoop to make it a one-possession game once again halfway through the quarter. That’s when the Spartans hit some huge shots to build an eight-point lead after three.
Jason Williams’ group looked to run away to start the fourth quarter, building their largest lead of 14 points with just under six minutes left in regulation. Though they managed to run the clock, the Highlanders forced some key stops and cut the deficit to under 10 points with just over a minute left. Haywood knocked down a clutch three-pointer with 22 seconds left to make it a 53-49 game, but USC Upstate forced a stop after knocking down a pair of free throws to end up with the win.
McGUIRE QUOTABLE
“We just didn’t look like we were hunting the normal shots and plays that we normally do,” said Head Coach Mike McGuire. “I do think Upstate did a really good job with their preparation and they tried to take away our transition (offense). I’m not sure we got what we needed to get in transition today.”
UP NEXT
The Highlanders look to avenge an earlier loss to Charleston Southern this Saturday in South Carolina. Tipoff is at 1:00 p.m. from the Buc Dome and can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on WRAD Radford Sports Radio.
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