RADFORD TIPS OFF TWO-GAME HOMESTAND WITH LONGWOOD

GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO

RADFORD, Va. – After finishing 5-4 in its nonconference slate, Radford women's basketball jumps back into Big South action with a Dec. 29 encounter with league newcomer Longwood at 4:30 p.m. inside the Dedmon Center.

MEET THE LANCERS

♦ Longwood concludes its brutal eight-game road swing with the Highlanders Saturday. During this stretch, the Lancers have went 2-5. Before breaking for Christmas, LU ventured to Pac-12 country to suffer a pair of losses: at Arizona (68-86) and at Arizona State (50-62).
♦ Chelsea Coward (15.1) leads three Lancers in double-digit scoring. Her average ranks fifth in the Big South Conference. Crystal Smith and Daeisha Brown provide the other double-figure performers at 13.9 and 10.4 points per game, respectively.
♦ Coward also leads LU in rebounding at 8.8 caroms per outing.
♦ The Lancers enter Saturday's tilt averaging 61.7 points per contest, while giving up 73.5 points per outing to their opponents.
♦ While its offense carries a 35.5-percent shooting clip, Longwood's defense holds its opposition to an average of 40.1 percent from the hardwood.
♦ The Lancers are a threat from beyond the arc, leading the league with an average of 6.9 3-pointers made per game.

SERIES HISTORY

♦ One of Radford's oldest rivals, Longwood and the Highlanders go all the way back to the 1971-72 season. RU owns a 17-10 advantage in the all-time series, despite being beaten in Farmville last season, 73-59.

WHAT'S NEXT

♦ The Highlanders wrap up their two-game Big South homestand and ring in the new year with a Wednesday, Jan. 3 matchup with UNC Asheville inside the Dedmon Center. RU swept the season series in 2011-12, defeating the Bulldogs 72-62 in Asheville and 79-67 at home.

LAST TIME OUT

♦ Clemson hit 51 percent of its shots and was able to answer each comeback attempt by Radford in the second half to defeat the Highlanders, 74-55, in non-conference women's basketball action Sunday evening inside Littlejohn Coliseum.
♦ Ayana Avery was the lone Highlander in double figures with 11 points on 3-of-11 shooting. Victoria Hamilton, Diani Mason and Jordynn Gaymon added eight points apiece, while Hamilton reeled in a team-best 10 boards.
♦ Connecting on a season-best 26-of-51 (51 percent) from the hardwood, Clemson did most of its damage in the paint. The Lady Tigers outscored the visitors, 38-20, in this category. However, the Highlanders managed to win the rebounding battle (42-41), which led to an 18-7 edge in second-chance points.
♦ Both squads struggled keeping possession, combining for 54 turnovers. The Lady Tigers forced Radford into a season-high 27 miscues, which were cashed in for 35 points.
♦ Clemson raced out to the early eight-point lead (15-7), but a Mason and-one capped a 6-2 spurt to get the Highlanders to within four (17-13) with 9:54 remaining in the half. From there, the Lady Tigers ran out the first frame on a 22-6 surge to claim a comfortable 39-19 advantage at intermission.
♦ Cutting their deficit to 16 (45-29) after a pair of Gaymon free throws, the Highlanders forced Clemson to burn a timeout with 13:28 showing on the clock. Out of the timeout, the Lady Tigers embarked on a 14-3 streak over the next four minutes and change to expand their lead to 27 and eliminate any chance of a comeback.

TIS' THE SEASON TO BE FOY-FUL

♦ After averaging 9.0 points per game for the second straight week, Aisha Foy has been selected The Crons Brand Freshman of the Week and was announced by the Big South office Dec. 17.
♦ The Virginia Beach, Va. continued her offensive onslaught in Radford's 73-50 victory over Norfolk State (Dec. 13). Foy cashed in 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including a 3-of-8 performance from downtown. She hauled in a season-high four boards, dished out a season-high two assists and intercepted one pass.
♦ Against Clemson, Foy connected on 2-of-5 attempts from the hardwood for five points. Once again, the dynamic guard was steady on the glass matching her season high of four caroms to go along with an assist and a steal against the Lady Tigers.

Print Friendly Version