RADFORD, Va. – Keyed by a 27-6 run and solid free throw shooting, High Point erased a 15-point second half deficit and went on to defeat Radford, 78-67, Saturday afternoon in Big South Conference action from the Dedmon Center.

Box Score | Archived Audio

Following the big run to get the Panthers (10-6, 3-0 Big South) back into the contest and the game tied at 67-apiece, Jurica Hargraves was fouled on a three-point attempt with 2:40 on the clock. The junior would drain all three charity tosses and the Panthers, who hit 21-of-23 second half free throws, would score the final 11 points of the game to secure the victory and extend their winning streak to six games.

Hargraves was one of five Panthers in double figures with 10 points. Amy Dodd led the way with 15 points, while Ashlee' Samuels recorded a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Mackenzie Maier and LaTeisha Dean rounded out the double figure scorers with 14 and 12 points. Maier swatted away seven shots, tying her own school record for blocks set a game ago against Coastal Carolina.

Redshirt senior Kymesha Alston (Hampton, Va./Manhattan) led all scorers with 21 points and a team-best seven rebounds. Junior Denay Wood (Bailey's Crossroads, Va./Annandale) added 11 points and three assists for the Highlanders (2-11, 1-1 BSC).

Junior Kaylyn Crosier (South Charleston, W.Va./South Charleston) and freshman Ashley Buckhannon (Wytheville, Va./George Wythe) chipped in with nine points apiece. Crosier also registered three assists and four rebounds.

A 13-4 game-opening run and 80 percent shooting (8-10) enabled High Point to jump out to a 19-11 lead in the first 6:30 of play. Dodd keyed the hot start hitting all three of her shots, including a pair of triples for eight points.

The Highlanders' defense adjusted to the up-tempo Panther style of offense and behind a 12-1 run over the next 4:31, they took a 23-20 lead with 8:41 on the clock.

After taking its first lead (22-20) at the 10-minute mark, on a Wood three, Radford maintained its lead the rest of the half. The Highlanders grabbed its largest advantage of the half (33-27) on freshman Ema Resoska's (Ohrid, Macedonia/Veritas Christian Academy) turnaround jumper at 2:50 before taking a 39-34 lead into the lockerroom.

After the piping-hot start, High Point finished the half shooting 46.4 percent (13-28), while Radford shot 43.6 percent (17-39). The Highlanders scored 13 points of nine Panther turnovers and took care of the ball themselves with just five miscues. Alston led all scorers at the break with 10 points. Dodd and Dean each dropped in eight apiece for the Panthers.

The Highlanders opened the second half running and behind a 9-0 spurt in the first 1:49, they extended its halftime lead to 48-34 and took its largest lead (53-38) at 15:12.

However, two quick buckets by Maier and Fields and a pair of freebees by Dodd sparked a 17-3 run to get the Panthers within striking distance at 56-55 with 9:20 to play.

After Radford pushed its lead back to four (59-55) at 9:09 on three consecutive free throws, High Point used a 7-0 spurt to take a 65-60 advantage and would not trail the rest of the game.

Radford shot 40 percent (26-65) for the game, but struggled from the line, hitting 13-of-22 free throws for 59 percent. High Point finished shooting 46.2 percent (24-52) and 83.9 (26-31) from the charity stripe.

The Panthers edged the Highlanders on the boards, 37-34, and finished with 10 blocks. Radford had three blocks, two by sophomore Kahealani Vick (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) and the other by Alston.

Radford continues at home on Monday, Jan. 11 hosting Winthrop at 7 p.m.