BOX SCORE

BOX SCORE

RADFORD, Va. – Behind a career-high 25 points from junior Ashley Buckhannon (Wytheville, Va./George Wythe), Radford women's basketball took a 69-46 victory Wednesday evening at the Dedmon Center.
 
With the win, Radford improved to 2-0 on the young season and became the first team since 1985-86 to win back-to-back games to open the season.
 
Buckhannon went 11-of-14 from the stripe on the way to her game-high 25 points.  In addition, the junior guard had a career-best 6 steals and gathered 5 boards.  Da'Naria Erwin Spencer (Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenburg) netted her second straight double-figure performance with 18, 13 of which came in the first half.  The backcourt duo combined to go 17-of-24 from the free throw line. 
 
Sophomore Tiana Cannon (Atlantic City, N.J./Coffeyville CC) nearly had a double-double with 9 points and 10 rebounds.  Victoria Hamilton (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands/Antilles School) chipped in with a career-best 6 assists, as well.
 
“Winston-Salem State did a good job and had many runs and I thought we did a great job responding to those runs.  Having Ashley and Da'Naria step up was very important for us tonight,” commented head coach Tajama Abraham Ngongba. 
 
Jasmine Newkirk's 13 points and 6 boards led the Lady Rams. 
 
Winston-Salem State's stingy defense kept the score within three for the majority of the first half before a 10-2 run in the final 3:51 led to a 31-20 Radford advantage at the break and the Highlanders never looked back.
 
The Highlander defense held the Lady Rams to 25 percent shooting in the first half and 28 percent for the game.  In addition, Radford forced 29 turnovers, which led to 35 points and held a 20-4 advantage in fast break points. 
 
The Highlanders will host USC Upstate on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. and conclude their four-game season-opening home stand against UNC Greensboro Monday, Nov. 21.