BOX SCORE

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Radford stormed back from a 15-point second-half deficit and stunned Liberty, 62-53 in Big South Women's Basketball action Monday evening at the Vines Center.

The Highlanders (7-11, 4-1 Big South) used a 20-4 run over the final 4:43 to snap a 16-game drought in the Vines Center, earning their first win since Feb. 3, 1996.

With 2:40 left and Radford trailing by three, Ashley Buckhannon tied the game (50-50) with a triple, her only field goal of the contest, and then put the Highlanders in the lead for good draining two free throws 20 seconds later.

POST-GAME: Tajama Abraham Ngongba

Buckhannon would hit four more freebies and Da'Naria Erwin Spencer nailed four as well in the waning seconds to secure the victory and push Radford into first place.

Radford was 15-for-18 from the charity stripe which included hitting its last 10. Defense was a big key as the Highlanders forced 29 turnovers and recorded 16 steals. Eight of Liberty's (9-8, 3-1) miscues came in the final 5:36.

Buckhannon finished with nine points, all coming in the final 2:40 of the contest. Erwin Spencer led the Highlanders with a game-high 15 points. Despite an off-shooting night, the sophomore guard hit all six of her charity tosses and added four assists and four steals.

The win also snapped an eight-game slide against the Flames dating back to the 2007 Big South Tournament when Kelli Darden hit a buzzer beater in the semifinals.

Avery Warley recorded a double-double for the Lady Flames with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Jelena Antic matched Erwin Spener with a game-best 15 points.

Radford fell behind by 15 (42-27) early in the second half, but the key to the comeback was a 10-2 run to get within five (44-39) at the 10:22 mark.

After Liberty pushed its lead to seven (49-42), Radford closed out the game with that game-winning 20-4 run. Just prior to Buckhannon's triple, senior Brooke McElroy knocked down a three from the corner to get the Highlanders within striking distance at the four-minute mark.

McElroy chipped in with 11 points.

Liberty closed out the final 7:02 of the first half with a 15-4 run to break a 19-19 deadlock and take a 34-23 into halftime. Antic keyed the run with six of the final eight points.

After the Lady Flames pushed their lead to 19-11, the Highlanders scored eight straight points, four each by junior Kahealani Vick and Erwin Spencer to knot the game at 19-19 at 7:24.

A 4:29 scoreless drought by the Highlanders allowed Liberty to extend its lead to 30-21 before going into the break up 34-23.

The Highlanders begin a season-long four-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 22 when they host Presbyterian at 3 p.m.