BOX SCORE

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech broke open a tight ball game with an early 16-4 second half run and defeated Radford, 68-54, Tuesday evening from Cassell Coliseum.

Da'Naria Erwin Spencer led the Highlanders (3-8) with 14 points, while Brooke McElroy recorded her third double-double of the season with 10 points and a team-best 10 rebounds.

The Highlanders closed their halftime deficit to three points twice in the first two minutes of the second half, but a 16-4 run by the Hokies (7-4) put the game out of reach. On both occasions when Radford made it a three-point game, Virginia Tech answered with a bucket on the next possession.

Nia Evans paced Virginia Tech with a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double, while Monet Tellier added a game-high 17 points.

Senior Denay Wood and Erica Rivera were also in double figures for the Highlanders with 11 points apiece.

The Hokies scored seven unanswered points, which was part of a 17-4 run, in the final 1:47 of the first half to take a 28-21 lead into the locker room. Evans led all scorers with 10 points. Erwin Spencer paced Radford with eight points.

Radford jumped out to a 6-1 lead and then later in the half used a 9-0 spurt to grab its largest lead of the game (17-11) on McElroy's layup at the 6:59 mark. Rivera keyed the run with five straight points that tied the contest and gave the Highlanders' the lead.

However, the Hokies countered with the 17-4 run, highlighted by Nikki Davis' triple that gave them the lead (24-21) for good at 1:47.

The Highlanders, who shot 33 percent and held the Hokies to 38 percent, won the turnover battle (26-23) and forced 20-plus miscues for the seventh time this season. Virginia Tech won the battle on the glass, 50-34.

Radford plays its final contest before Christmas on Thursday, Dec. 23 at home against VCU at 3 p.m.