HAMILTON’S DOUBLE-DOUBLE KEYS 60-46 VICTORY OVER LONGWOOD

BOX SCORE FARMVILLE, Va. – Behind Victoria Hamilton's third double-double of the season and a late surge in the second half, Radford women's basketball was able to return to the winner's circle with a 60-46 triumph over Longwood Thursday night at Willett Hall.

By dropping in 14 points and scooping up 12 rebounds, Hamilton collected her fifth career double-double for the Highlanders (13-10, 8-6 Big South). Ashley Buckhannon tallied 13 points, including 10 in the final 20 minutes. La-She' Walker came up big in the post, pouring in a career-high nine points in addition to six rebounds.

Along with Walker, Sarah Tabb and Jordynn Gaymon narrowly missed double-figure scoring as well, contributing nine points apiece. In addition to 38.9 percent shooting, Radford out-rebounded the Lancers (9-16, 6-8 Big South) 46-34 and held a 28-16 edge in points scored in the paint. Of the 21 field goals scored by the Highlanders, 14 were off of assists.

Longwood received three double-digit scoring efforts, led by Chelsea Coward's double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds). Mieke Elkington and Crystal Smith chalked up 10 points each for the hosts, who forced RU into 16 turnovers. Finishing with 26.8 percent accuracy from the floor, the Lancers became the second opponent Radford held under 30 percent shooting this season.

“Leadership was key for us to pull out this win,” commented head coach Tajama Abraham Ngongba. “Coming in, we knew it would be a very physical game. Our seniors were able to get us started on that run toward the end of the game, which was the difference between the two sides tonight.”

Gaymon led the Highlanders in the first frame with nine points on 3-of-5 shooting, while the visitors connected on 40 percent of their shots. Radford led by as many as six points in the opening half of action before going into break on top, 27-25.

After the Lancers opened with a bucket to cut their deficit to two, Walker and Hamilton combined for a 6-0 run to push Radford ahead, 33-25, less than four minutes into the second stanza. Seeing their lead dwindle to 43-40 at the 8:36 mark, the Highlanders responded with an 11-0 run over the next three minutes for a 54-40 advantage with 5:28 showing on the clock.

That run, combined with efficient free-throw shooting, proved to be enough down the stretch to snap a three-game skid for the Highlanders in the all-time series and on the season.

Looking to stay in the win column, Radford will head west on Route 460 to Lynchburg, Va. for a Saturday encounter with Big South-leading Liberty at 3:00 p.m. inside the Vines Center. The Lady Flames edged RU, 67-65, Dec. 1 at the Dedmon Center. The 59th all-time meeting with Liberty will be an ESPN3 broadcast.

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