HIGHLANDERS FALTER 83-77 IN OVERTIME AT CAMPBELL

BOX SCORE BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Despite five players in double figures, Radford women's basketball could not overcome a 55-32 rebounding disadvantage as Campbell clawed out an 83-77 Big South overtime victory over the Highlanders inside Gore Arena Thursday night.

With the loss, Radford's win streak ends at five games to drop to 10-7 overall and 5-3 in league play. Campbell improves to 13-6 on the season and 5-3 in the Big South. The Lady Camels' victory also snaps a five-game losing streak in the all-time series with RU.

“The storyline to this game can be found on the glass,” head coach Tajama Abraham Ngongba pointed out. “Any time a team gets out-rebounded by 23, the chances of a winning result are very unlikely. We have to regroup and come back strong on Saturday against High Point.”

For the first time since Feb. 10, 2010, the Highlanders had five double-digit scorers. Da'Naria Erwin Spencer led the way with 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including the deuce to force overtime with 14 seconds remaining in regulation.

Ayana Avery and Diani Mason chipped in 13 points apiece, while Ashley Buckhannon and Victoria Hamilton charted 10 points each. Buckhannon also contributed a game-high six steals, while Sarah Tabb hauled in a team-best eight boards. Radford connected on 43.1 percent from the floor and was sharp from the charity stripe (84.2 percent).

Paced by two career-high-setting nights, the Lady Camels shot 41.7 percent (30-of-72). Leading the way was Kiera Gaines, who was two assists away from a triple-double with career-highs in points (26) and rebounds (14), to go along with eight assists. Ashley James put up a career-high 20 points and crashed the boards for 11 rebounds.

Opening with the second stanza's first six points, Radford reclaimed the lead at 36-35 just over two minutes out of halftime. After Zena Lovette drilled a 3-pointer on the next Lady Camel possession, a Tabb layup sparked an 8-2 spurt that established the Highlanders' largest lead of the night at 44-40 with 15:20 showing on the clock.

The hosts responded resiliently and seized their largest lead of the second half (65-58) with 6:21 to go in the contest. Avery swished home her third triple of the game on the other end and followed with a layup a minute later to pull the Highlanders to within two (65-63) with 4:27 to go.

Trailing 69-65 with one minute remaining, Tabb calmly stepped to the line and converted two charity tosses to draw within two once more. After RU dodged two Campbell attempts to put the game away, Erwin Spencer pulled down the defensive board, weaved through traffic and knocked down the pull-up jumper in the paint to send the Highlanders into their second overtime outing of the season.

Erwin Spencer picked up right where she left off in regulation by burying a deuce less than 40 seconds into overtime that vaulted RU in front for the final time of the night, 71-69. From there, Campbell used its rebounding edge to convert second-chance opportunities to hold off the Highlanders down the stretch.

For the game, the Lady Camels had a 21-12 advantage in points off turnovers and a 10-4 edge in fast-break points. RU's reserves came up huge, outscoring Campbell's bench 36-11.

Even though Radford (45.8 percent) outshot CU (43.8 percent) in the opening half of action, the Lady Camels scored 13 points off RU turnovers to claim a 35-30 edge at intermission. Already ahead 14-12, Campbell extended its lead to double figures using a 10-2 streak to take a 24-14 advantage.

With 4:59 remaining in the first frame and the Lady Camels still in front by 10, Radford began chipping away at its deficit. The Highlanders got to within five (32-27) following a pair of Hamilton free throws and would trail at the half by that same margin.

Staying on the road, Radford ventures west to battle High Point, Saturday, Jan. 26 at 3:30 p.m. from the Millis Center.

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