BOX SCORE

BOX SCORE

RADFORD, Va. – Behind a career-high 22 points from junior Victoria Hamilton (St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands/Antilles School), Radford women's basketball defeated USC Upstate 85-52 Saturday afternoon at the Dedmon Center.
 
With the victory, Radford started 3-0 for the first time since 1985-86 and became only the eighth team in program history to accomplish that feat.
 
Hamilton went 10-of-12 from the floor and grabbed six boards.  It was the first time in her career she hit the 20-point plateau.  Accompanying Hamilton was backcourt mate Da'Naria Erwin Spencer (Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenberg), who also surpassed the mark with 21.  It was the first time since Feb. 15, 2010 Radford had two players record 20-plus points.
 
Also in double figures was Katherine Brockett (Geelong, Australia/Kardinia International College), who scored a career-high 12 points, 9 of which came in the second half, and freshman Ayana Avery (Cleveland, N.C./West Rowan) chipped in with 10.  Avery also added back-to-back no-look assists late in the second frame. 
 
“I'm very proud of our team.  We have a ton of weapons and that's starting to show more and more,” commented head coach Tajama Abraham Ngongba.  “Our bench really came through for us today, as well.”
 
Radford had 35 points off the bench and held commanding advantages in fast break points (20-4) and points in the paint (38-20). 
 
Preseason all-conference pick Tee'Ara Copney led the Spartans with 19 points and Madisen Webb added 10.
 
14 of Radford's 26 first-half points came from Hamilton, including the first six points of the game.  The junior guard went 7-of-8 from the field in the opening frame.  
 
After scoring only 26 in the first half, Radford returned in the second to net 59.  The Highlander defense held Upstate to 27 percent shooting for the game, while making 55 percent of its offense attempts.
 
A three-pointer by Hannah Ohl at the 19:03 mark gave Upstate a 3-2 lead, but Radford countered with a bucket from Hamilton and never looked back.
 
The Highlanders return home on Monday, Nov. 21 to take on UNC Greensboro at 7 p.m. to cap a four-game season-opening home stand.  Following that game, Radford will embark on a month-long road swing.