BOX SCORE

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Second-seeded Radford shot just 22 percent from the floor and Dequesha McClanahan tallied a game-high 17 points as No. 7 Winthrop upset the Highlanders, 59-38, in the first round of the Advance Auto Parts Big South Women's Basketball Championships Friday evening from High Point's Millis Center.

Winthrop (13-17), which shot 44 percent for the contest, led 26-21 at the break and opened up an early 13-point second half lead (34-21) which Radford (14-16) never recovered from.

McClanahan, the league's freshman of the year, was just 4-for-11 from the field, but hit 9-of-11 from the charity stripe to lead three Lady Eagles in double figures. Lacy Lyons and TaQuoia Hammick chipped in with 14 and 13 points. Hammick recorded a double-double with a team-high 10 boards.

Erica Rivera and Ashley Buckhannon led the Highlanders with eight points apiece as they did not have anyone record double figures for the first time this season.

“We are obviously disappointed and the outcome wasn't what we expected,” said Big South Coach of the Year Tajama Abraham Ngongba. “We just didn't connect. I am proud of the way the team battled. We were just a little out of sync. It happens; I just wish it wouldn't have happened tonight.”

Brooke McElroy contributed seven points and a game-best 14 rebounds. It was McElroy's eighth game posting double figure caroms and the fourth time with 14-plus.

The Lady Eagles shot 46 percent and broke open a tight game with an 8-0 run to take a 26-21 lead into halftime. McClanahan and Lyons combined for 17 of those points with nine and eight, respectively.

With the Lady Eagles up 12-8, they went on an 8-0 run to grab a 20-8 lead at the 7:20 mark.

After Lyons drained a triple to put Winthrop up 23-11, Ema Reskoska sparked an 8-0 Radford spurt with five points and capped it off with a freebie to get the Highlanders within 23-19.

That would be as close as Radford would get the rest of the contest. Winthrop pushed its lead back to seven before Breshara Gordon hit a runner at the buzzer getting the Highlanders within five (26-21) at the break.

After Winthrop extended its halftime lead to 34-21 on a eight straight points to start the stanza, Radford made one last push with a 7-0 spurt. It was ignited by Rivera's second triple of the game to get the Highlanders within six (34-28) with just over 13 minutes to play.

However, the Highlanders, who were 5-for-33 in the second half, would hit a drought scoring just three points over the next 10 minutes. During that time, the Lady Eagles methodically extended their lead to 19 points (50-31).

Winthrop won the battle on the glass, 46-33 and hit 21-of-31 free throws. The Highlanders, who attempted 118 charity tosses in their last four games, were just 7-fo-15 from the stripe.