RADFORD, Va. - No. 3 Radford looks for its third-straight appearance in the Advance Auto Parts Big South Tournament title game, and tenth championship, when the Highlanders begin tournament play Friday at 5:30 p.m. against No. 6 Gardner-Webb at High Point University's Millis Center.
2009 Advance Auto Parts Big South Tournament Central
Live Stats (High Point)
Live Audio (Radford)
Live Video (Big South EDGE)
Game Notes
A win for Radford puts the Highlanders (10-17 overall) in semifinal game #2 on Saturday, against the winner of Friday's game between No. 2 High Point and No. 7 UNC Asheville. Tip off is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday's semifinals, along with Sunday's championship game, will be aired live on Mid-Atlantic Sports Network and SportSouth.
Finishing third in the conference standings along with Winthrop at 9-7, the Highlanders won a tie-breaker to earn the third spot in the 2009 championships, which include four quarterfinal games on Friday.
Radford, winners of four of the last six games, dropped an 80-61 decision to Liberty in the regular season finale last Friday night at the Dedmon Center. Against the Lady Flames, sophomore
Taleia Moton led the Highlanders with 18 points.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (15-14) are making their first-ever appearance in the Big South tournament finishing the regular season tied with UNC Asheville for sixth overall at 7-9. Gardner-Webb is also looking to get back on track, with losses in its last two games of the season.
The teams split the season series, winning on their respective home courts. Radford won 82-74 at Peters Hall on Jan. 5 and Gardner-Webb picked up a 55-53 victory on Feb. 7.
In 22 previous Big South tournament appearances, Radford is 32-13 overall. As the third seeded team, Radford is 7-2 overall, but the Highlanders have not been in this position since 2002, a first round 54-50 loss to Winthrop.
QUOTES FROM WEDNESDAY'S BIG SOUTH COACHES' NEWS CONFERENCE
Tajama Ngongba on the tournament and the season:
“My staff and I are obviously very excited about the upcoming tournament. It's been an interesting season for us and it's been like having a team of all freshmen this year, with everyone getting used to a new system, and buying into that system. Right now, they're really starting to have some confidence in the system and their play, and we hope that confidence carries over this weekend to the tournament.
“The biggest thing, and what we've told the team all year, is that it all comes down to three games in March. Every game, up until that point, they need to learn something to get better somehow, and I thought our team did that this year. I'm really proud of this team, and excited about our chances in the tournament.”
On pulling from her previous tournament experience as an assistant coach:
“When I walked into practice at the beginning of this week, the thing I told them is that we start tournament preparation right now. That begins with preparing their bodies ahead of time, making sure they're eating right and getting enough sleep. They need to start channeling the energy now to get better. It's also about getting in the gym for extra shooting time, or the office for extra film time as well. The preparation starts today, not when the ball goes up. And that's one thing I've been able to share with this team.
"We've gotten very specific with expectations. We told them that every time they step on the court, whether it's the game or practice, they have to give a championship-caliber performance.”
On Radford's first-round matchup with No. 6 Gardner-Webb:
“It's a good matchup for us. But we know they're a dangerous team, work well together and have a good inside game. They are the complete package. At the same time, we're playing and practicing with a lot of confidence. Really, it's going to come down to which five on the floor can do every little thing necessary to win that game.”
