Box Score | Archived Audio

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Kymesha Alston's (Hampton, Va./Manhattan) game-high 19 points was not enough as Radford's late comeback bid fell just short as the Highlanders dropped a 56-52 contest at Winthrop, Saturday evening from the Winthrop Coliseum.

Trailing 50-41 with 5:55 to play, Radford (5-16, 4-6 Big South) used a 12-3 run, sparked by back-to-back jumpers by junior Kaylyn Crosier (South Charleston, W.Va./South Charleston), and capped off by a pair of free throws by junior Denay Wood (Bailey's Crossroad, Va./Annandale) to get within 53-52 with 1:18 to play.

After forcing a turnover of the ensuing inbounds play, Radford had an opportunity to take its first lead since early in the first half, but the shot was blocked and Winthrop (10-14, 4-6) was fouled with 36 ticks on the clock.

Shanice Cole made both charity tosses and after a pair of missed free throws by the Highlanders, Mary Hathaway made 1-of-2 to seal the win.

Cole finished with a team-high 16 points. She also tallied six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Alston hits just four field goals, but matched a career-high with 11 free throws. The red-shirt senior also recorded a game-best nine rebound and four steals with three assists.

Freshman Da'Naria Erwin Spencer (Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenburg) joined Alston in double figures with 13 points, going 5-for-8 from the field. She also had three assists and three steals.

Radford shot just 26 percent from the floor, but canned a season-high 22-of-29 free throws. The Highlanders also forced 25 turnovers and registered 14 steals. It marked the 14th time this season an opponent has committed 20-plus miscues.

The Highlanders grabbed a quick 8-2 lead in the first 3:40 behind five points from Alston, but a 27-7 run by the Eagles over the next 12:32 countered the quick start and gave them a 29-15 lead with just under three minutes to go in the half.

After Radford tallied six straight points to stop the big run, Winthrop's Cole put back her own miss with two seconds left putting the Eagles up 31-21 at halftime.

Alston finished the half with eight points, six of them coming from the free throw line, where the Highlanders were 10-for-11. However, Radford struggled from the field, shooting just 21 percent (5-24).

Cole paced the Eagles, who shot 41 percent from the floor, with a half-high 10 points. Winthrop also had a good half at the line hitting eight-of-10 for 80 percent.

Winthrop came out of the lockerroom and scored the first bucket of the stanza to push its lead to 33-21.

After cutting the lead to six on an Alston jumper early on in the second half, Radford was able to keep the game within striking distance, allowing them the opportunity to make a comeback attempt.

Radford stays on the road facing High Point, Monday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on SportsSouth.