HIGHLANDERS FALL ON THE ROAD TO LIBERTY

BOX SCORE Follow @Radford_WBB Tweet #RadfordWBB

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Sophomore Aisha Foy scored a season-high 15 points but Liberty used its size advantage to control the glass and defeat Radford women's basketball, 70-49, Saturday afternoon at the Vines Center.

Foy went 5-for-8 from the floor and also dished out a career-best four assists. Junior Ayana Avery chipped in with 10 points and three steals as Radford (2-6, 0-2 Big South) closed out its season-long six-game road swing. Senior Breshara Gordon matched a career high as she pulled down a team-best five rebounds and also charted a career-best four steals.

Ashley Rininger tallied a game-high 18 points and 15 rebounds, nine on the offensive glass, for the Lady Flames (4-5, 1-0) who outrebounded the Highlanders, 53-24. Catherine Kearney also registered a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Liberty scored 15 points off of nine turnovers and closed out the first half with a 17-4 run to take a 34-17 advantage into the lockerroom. Foy led all scorers at the break with 10 points on a 4-of-6 clip from the field. The Highlanders also held the Lady Flames to 38 percent from the field, but Liberty limited RU to just 28 percent shooting and held a 29-14 margin on the glass.

Rininger recorded eight points and nine rebounds to pace the Lady Flames in the first half with Sadalia Ellis adding eight points and four steals.

Each squad opened the game exchanging buckets, but Liberty used a 9-0 run to grab an early 13-4 advantage at the 14:59 mark. Ignited by a Foy triple, the Highlanders fought back with a 9-4 run (8 points from Foy) to get within 17-13 with just over eight minutes remaining.

However, a 6-0 spurt that included a pair of second-chance points jumpstarted the Lady Flames' half-closing run.

Liberty pushed its lead to as much as 28 points in the second half, but a 20-8 run by the Highlanders over an eight-minute span put them within 63-47 after a pair of Foy free throws with 3:15 left, but the Flames scored a quick five points to quell a late comeback bid.

The Highlanders forced 17 turnovers and registered 11 steals and only turned the ball over 13 times with only four in the second half.

Following a break for final exams, Radford returns to the Dedmon Center Monday, Dec. 16 against Appalachian State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. against the Mountaineers.

Print Friendly Version