WOMEN’S HOOPS GRINDS OUT 71-60 BATTLE WITH CHARLESTON SOUTHERN

BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. – Behind a season-best 52.8 percent clip from the hardwood and Radford's ferocious defense causing 28 Charleston Southern turnovers, the Highlanders gutted out a 71-60 Big South decision Saturday evening inside the Dedmon Center to up their win streak to five.

Ayana Avery chalked up 15 points to lead three double-figure scorers for Radford (10-6, 5-2 Big South). Ashley Buckhannon and Da'Naria Erwin Spencer dropped in 12 and 10 points, respectively, while Victoria Hamilton handed out a career-high-tying six assists for the second straight game. Buckhannon added six assists and four steals to her stat line.

Erwin Spencer moved into sole possession of fifth place on the all-time career-scoring chart with 1,239. She passed Johnette Walker (1,238) with her performance Saturday.

Knocking down a game-high 17 points was Shay Jones to lead the Lady Bucs (5-11, 0-7 Big South). Lakeitha Alston (15) and DJ Fowler (14) joined Jones in double figures for the visitors.

“This game proved there are no nights off in the Big South,” expressed head coach Tajama Abraham Ngongba. “Charleston Southern showed a lot of effort. I thought we had some mental lapses, but we did a good job of gathering our focus to grind out this win in the second half.”

Once again, Radford relied on its superb defense to create its offense. Nearly half of the Highlanders' points came from capitalizing on CSU's mistakes—Radford held a 35-13 advantage in points off turnovers. Continuing with their dominance in the paint, the Highlanders edged the visitors, 32-26, in points scored in the lane.

Following an Anicia Dotson free throw to tie the game for the fourth occasion at the 13:02 mark of the second stanza, Hamilton drained a baseline-jumper to ignite a 16-4 surge that gave RU a 54-42 lead with 6:28 showing on the clock.

CSU was able to shred its deficit to six (58-52) at the 4:01 mark, but the Highlanders scored the next five points to restore their double-figure margin and cruise in from there. With the win, Radford improves to 6-2 in home competition this season.

Connecting on a sizzling 58.6 percent (17-29) of their shots in the final 20 minutes of action, the Highlanders were able to post their highest shooting percentage of the season (52.8). Meanwhile, CSU managed 45 percent from the floor.

The Lady Bucs and RU, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in free-throw percentage in the Big South, respectively, did not fare well from the charity stripe. The visitors converted 59.4 percent (19-32), while the Highlanders shot 57.1 percent (12-21).

After its successful 2-0 homestand, Radford hits the road for its next four contests. Up first is a Jan. 24 tilt in Buies Creek, N.C. against Campbell. The Fighting Camels and the Highlanders are set to tip at 7:00 p.m. inside Gore Arena.

CSU returns to the Palmetto State for a four-game stretch at home beginning with a visit from UNC Asheville, Jan. 24 at 7:00 p.m.

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