COMEBACK BID FALLS SHORT AS LIBERTY EDGES RADFORD, 76-68

BOX SCORE

RADFORD, Va. – Paced by Ashley Buckhannon's (Wytheville, Va./George Wythe) career-high 25 points, Radford forced 39 turnovers but couldn't overcome an early 16-0 second-half run, as the Highlanders fell to Liberty, 76-68, in women's basketball action Saturday.

Entering the second half down, 34-31, Radford (6-6, 0-1 Big South) hit a quick three in its opening possession to tie up the game. Liberty (6-6, 1-0 Big South) then went on a 16-0 run in a 5:44 span to push the lead to 52-36 and never looked back.

Radford chipped away at the lead and got within as many as six, 69-63, but Liberty hit 7-of-8 from the stripe down the stretch to hold on to the win. For the game, the Lady Flames shot 60 percent, including a 67 percent clip in the second half.

The 39 forced turnovers were one shy of a Dedmon Center record and Radford turned those miscues into 42 points. The Highlanders also had a 20-6 fast-break advantage.

18 of Buckhannon's game-high 25 points came in the first half. She went 7-of-9 from the floor and was a perfect 2-for-2 from downtown in the opening frame. Da'Naria Erwin Spencer (Charlotte, N.C./East Mecklenburg) was the other Highlander in double figures with 12 points, all coming in the second half.

Liberty had four players reach double figures, led Devon Brown's 19 points. Raegan Miller had 16 points, Avery Warley recorded 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and LaKendra Washington finished with 11.

25 of Liberty's 39 turnovers came on Radford thefts. Sarah Tabb (Chesapeake, Va./StoneBridge) led the way with a career-best 7 steals.

The Highlanders are back in action Jan. 7 when they host Campbell at 3 p.m. at the Dedmon Center.

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