LEAGUE-LEADING BLUE HOSE AWAIT RADFORD IN SOUTH CAROLINA

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RADFORD, Va. – Picked eighth in the preseason coaches' poll, Presbyterian College is proving why one cannot look to these predictions as a sure indicator of how the season unfolds. The Blue Hose will put their unblemished 5-0 mark in Big South play on the line Saturday at 5:00 p.m. when Radford invades the Templeton Center.

MEET THE BLUE HOSE

♦ Only allowing 55.9 points per game, PC ranks second in the Big South. The squad knocks down 42.1 percent of its shots, which is also second-best in the league.
♦ The Blue Hose are sharp from behind the arc, carrying a 33.3-percent rate from long range (third in Big South).
♦ Offensively, PC averages a league-low 52.6 points an outing, while hauling in 34.5 caroms a game (ranks 10th in Big South).
♦ Dria David averages 11.4 points per contest (14th in league scoring) to lead her squad in the scoring column. Mariah Pietrowski and Karlee Taylor each chip in 10 points an outing (22nd in league scoring).
♦ Pietrowski and Shonda Burnside lead the rebounding effort at 5.1 caroms each time out.
♦ Trailing by two with 5:42 to play, PC closed its Thursday night matchup against Longwood on a 20-9 run to move to 5-0 in the Big South Conference with a 71-62 decision. The contest featured the final two unbeatens in conference play.

HIGHLANDER HAPPENINGS

♦ Radford is led by Ashley Buckhannon in the scoring column at 13.1 per contest (10th-best in conference), while Victoria Hamilton crashes the boards for a team-best 7.8 rebounds per outing (ranks sixth in league).
♦ The Highlanders are efficient with their trips to the charity stripe, converting 72.7 percent of their attempts, which ranks second in the Big South.
♦ At 10.62 steals per game, Radford ranks third in the league, while leading the Big South in turnover margin (+3.46).

SERIES HISTORY

♦ The last time these two squads met PC recorded its first victory in the 11-game series, a 52-49 decision in Clinton last season. Radford is 4-1 when playing inside the Templeton Center.

WHAT'S NEXT

♦ Following their two-game road swing, the Highlanders return home to host Coastal Carolina (Jan. 17 at 7:00 p.m.) and Charleston Southern (Jan. 19 at 3:00 p.m.).

LAST TIME OUT

♦ For the fifth time in the series, Radford and Gardner-Webb battled into overtime before the Highlanders reigned victorious by outlasting the Runnin' Bulldogs, 72-69, Thursday night inside Paul Porter Arena.
♦ Since Dec. 12, 2004, extra time has been needed in five out of the 11 meetings between the two squads, including four out of the previous six encounters. GWU was unbeaten in overtime contests against Radford until Thursday.
♦ Leading the way was Ashley Buckhannon, who finished the night with game highs of 20 points and five assists. Tying her career high of 16 points was Sarah Tabb, who knocked down 5-of-7 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe. Ironically, the other 16-point outing Tabb had came against the Runnin' Bulldogs last season in Boiling Springs.
♦ Ayana Avery rounded out three double-figure scorers for the Highlanders (7-6, 2-2 Big South) with 13 points, including a critical 3-pointer late in regulation to keep RU's hopes of a comeback victory alive. Victoria Hamilton reeled in a game-high 11 boards to go along with nine points, while Jordynn Gaymon filled up the stat sheet with nine rebounds and eight points.
♦ Paced by four players in double figures, the Runnin' Bulldogs (7-9, 0-5 Big South) shot 44.3 percent from the hardwood. Preseason all-conference selection Catrina Green notched 11 points, all in the second stanza, to go along with six caroms to lead the hosts.
♦ Candace Brown (11), Lana Doran (10) and Jessica Heilig (10) also reached double digits in the scoring column for GWU.
♦ Despite Gardner-Webb edging the Highlanders in the rebounding category (47-45), RU attacked the glass for 27 second-chance points compared to 10 by the hosts. Radford also had more points in the paint (36-32) and points off turnovers (19-13).

LAST MEETING WITH PRESBYTERIAN COLLEGE

♦ Presbyterian College's Kristen Stevens hit a 3-pointer with 12 seconds remaining to give the Blue Hose a 52-49 come-from-behind win, halting Radford's seven-game winning streak.
♦ With the game tied 47-47, Stevens got fouled and knocked down two free throws. After Radford countered with two free throws of its own by Da'Naria Erwin Spencer, Stevens drained a trey from the left wing with 12 seconds left to give the Blue Hose its first-ever victory over Radford.
♦ PC opened the second half on a 6-0 run to even the score, 29-29. Following the run, the largest margin for either team in the second half was four. Radford dropped its first contest this year when leading at the half.
♦ Karlee Taylor led the way for Presbyterian with 13 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Mariah Pietrowski and Sherece Smith also netted double figures with 11 and 10, respectively.
♦ Ashley Buckhannon scored 15 points to lead all scorers and Ayana Avery came off the bench to score 13 points.
♦ Radford held the edge in the paint, 26-16 and bench points, 17-9. The Big South's leader in scoring defense (54.9), Presbyterian held the Highlanders five points under that mark and 34 percent shooting overall.

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