RADFORD BEGINS DAUNTING ROAD SWING AT NORFOLK STATE

Follow @Radford_WBB Tweet #RadfordWBB

LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO | GAME NOTES | FAN PAGE

RADFORD, Va. – After opening with two home games, the Radford women's basketball team hits the road for the first time this season when the Highlanders travel to Norfolk State for Friday's 6 p.m. battle at Joseph Echols Hall in Norfolk, Va.

MEET THE SPARTANS
» After dropping a 73-67 decision at Morehead State last Friday, Norfolk State returns home for its next three matchups. In that span, the Spartans will play RU, UNC Greensboro and Wofford.
» NSU was picked to finish 11th in the MEAC's preseason poll as voted on by coaches and sports information directors. The Spartans received 238 points. Hampton finished first with 658 points and 20 of the 26 first-place votes.
» Senior forward Rachel Gordon was named to the Preseason All-MEAC third team. Gordon, a native of Woodbridge, Va., was selected to the All-MEAC second team last season after leading Norfolk State in scoring (10.6 points per game) and rebounding (9.7). She also shot 47 percent from the floor and enters her senior season with a chance to break into the top five for rebounding in program history.
» Redshirt junior Rae Corbo paced the Spartans in their season opener with 17 points. She was 9-for-10 from the charity stripe.
» Quineshia Leonard posted a double-double by connecting on 5-of-11 from the floor for 15 points and hauling in 10 rebounds.
» NSU shot 30 percent (18-60) as a team in addition to converting 75.6 percent (31-41) of its free throw opportunities. The Spartans were credited with 13 steals and scored 17 points from 25 Morehead State turnovers. NSU outrebounded its opposition, 49-40.

NORFOLK STATE SERIES AT A GLANCE
» The all-time series between the Highlanders and the Spartans dates back to the 1974-75 season with Radford leading, 8-3.
» RU has won three straight in the series, including last year's encounter (73-50).

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE
» In Radford's 74-38 victory over Emory & Henry, three Highlanders recorded double-doubles. Ayana Avery led the way with her 21 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Rachael Ross' 16 tallies and 10 boards. Kermisha Clark made a splash in her collegiate debut as well, chipping in 11 points and 10 assists.
» Three days later, Avery, Ross and Jordynn Gaymon produced double-doubles against Lynchburg. Avery finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds, Ross tallied 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Gaymon chalked up 10 points and a career-high 13 boards.
» Before these two occurrences, the last time more than one Highlander recorded a double-double was in 2010 when Kymesha Alston (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Victoria Hamilton (10 points, 13 rebounds) accomplished the feat.

TRIPLE THREAT
» Ayana Avery's six 3-pointers made against Emory & Henry were a career high for the junior. In addition to leading the Big South in treys, the Cleveland, N.C. native is second in the league in scoring at 20.5 points per game.
» With 102 3-pointers made for her career, Avery is already tied for seventh in program history. Kylie Williamson holds the top spot with 203 triples.

OFFENSIVE OUTBURST
» By including RU's 70-point output against Bluefield in the Highlanders' lone exhibition, Radford broke the 70-point plateau in three straight games for the first time since November of last season.
» In the Highlanders' season opener, they shot higher than 50 percent from the hardwood for the first time since January 19, 2013 when they hit 52.8 percent of their shots in a 71-60 triumph over Charleston Southern. Furthermore, Radford shot higher than 50 percent in a season opener for the first time since the Highlanders shot 56.6 percent in a 100-42 victory over Eastern Mennonite on November 12, 2011.

ROAD WARRIORS
» Beginning with Friday's game at Norfolk State, the Highlanders stay on the road for their next six contests. In addition to its trip to NSU, Radford plays Old Dominion, Wake Forest, Clemson, Campbell and Liberty during this span. RU finally returns to the Dedmon Center Dec. 16 against Appalachian State.
» The Highlanders have not played six consecutive true road games since the 2009-10 campaign. During that stretch, RU played No. 11 North Carolina, VCU, Richmond, Hampton, Marshall and Gardner-Webb.

STELLAR SIX
» Radford landed six standouts during the NCAA's early signing period. Brittany Allen, Janelle James, Jordan Toohey, Janayla White and Jayda Worthy all inked national letters of intent Wednesday morning. Amber Evans will join the team as a recruited walk-on.

LAST TIME OUT
» Behind 56 rebounds and three double-doubles, Radford defeated Lynchburg College, 72-49, in nonconference women's basketball action at the Dedmon Center Tuesday night.
» For the second straight game, three Highlanders recorded double-doubles, led by Ayana Avery's 20 points and 10 rebounds. Rachael Ross contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Jordynn Gaymon chalked up a season-high 10 points, collected a career-high 13 boards and rejected four shots.
» It was the first time since 2009 three players recorded 10 or more rebounds in the same game. Aisha Foy dropped in a season-high 12 points. Avery and Kiera McIvor dished out five assists each.
» Radford (2-0) converted 25-of-67 field goals for 37.3 percent, and only missed four of its 18 free throw attempts for 77.8 percent. In addition to winning the rebounding battle (56-35), the Highlanders outscored LC in points off turnovers (21-11), second-chance points (15-5), fast break points (9-2) and bench points (19-6).
» Already ahead 11-7 at the 15:17 mark of the first half, the Highlanders mounted a 10-2 surge over the next three minutes to go ahead by double figures (21-9). Lynchburg countered with a run of its own, scoring 10 unanswered to trim RU's advantage to 21-19 with 9:47 showing on the clock. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Avery sparked a 10-0 streak for the Highlanders that pushed their margin to 31-19. Radford went into break on top, 41-30.
» In addition to connecting on all six of their free throw attempts, the Highlanders shot 42.9 percent (15-35) in the opening stanza. The Hornets were held to 32.4 percent shooting (11-34).
» Despite cooling off to 31.3 percent shooting in the second stanza, RU extended its lead to as many as 25 (63-38). Relentless defensive pressure finally got to Lynchburg in the second half as the visitors were forced into 12 of their 17 miscues during the final 20 minutes. Because the Hornets struggled to get a clean look at the basket, they were held to 19 points in the closing session.

UP NEXT
» Radford continues its six-game road stretch Sunday at Old Dominion. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at the Ted Constant Convocation Center in Norfolk, Va.

Print Friendly Version