BUCKHANNON JOINS 1,000-POINT CLUB AS RADFORD FALLS, 66-52

BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. – Senior guard Ashley Buckhannon became Radford women's basketball's 20th member of the 1,000-point club Thursday night, but the Highlanders were unable to answer Campbell's rally in the second half to drop a 66-52 Big South decision at the Dedmon Center.

Behind 50 percent shooting, including a 62.5 percent efficiency in the final 20 minutes, the Lady Camels improve to 15-8 overall and 7-5 in conference action. In comparison, Radford shot 30.8 percent for the game to fall to 12-9 on the season and 7-5 in league competition.

“Every night we have to come ready to play for 40 minutes, but tonight we didn't execute in the final 20,” head coach Tajama Abraham Ngongba said. “We cannot afford to come out in the second half like we did against a team like Campbell.”

Needing only one point to hit the milestone, the senior sharpshooter crossed the 1,000-point plateau with a trey from the far corner less than a minute into the game. Ironically, the last time a Highlander scored 1,000 points was Da'Naria Erwin Spencer (Feb. 6, 2012 at Campbell).

Finishing with 14 points and four assists, Buckhannon did everything she could to keep Radford in the game. Erwin Spencer was right behind her backcourt mate with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting. Victoria Hamilton ripped down a team-best eight boards, while La-She' Walker swished home a career-high eight points in addition to six rebounds.

Tonisha Baker led all scorers with 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting for Campbell. Joining Baker in double figures were Kiera Gaines and Roslyn Presley with 13 points apiece.

Despite winning the rebounding battle 41-34 and having a 19-6 advantage in second-chance points, Radford could not overcome 23 turnovers and Campbell's bench chalking up 31 points, compared to the Highlanders' 19.

Following Buckhannon's 3-pointer to open the game, the Lady Camels dropped in eight straight points to take an 8-3 advantage with 14:42 left in the opening half of action. Radford would rally and eventually build its largest lead of six (21-15) at the 3:50 mark. Two straight buckets by the visitors set the score at 21-19 in favor of the Highlanders heading into halftime.

Jordynn Gaymon opened the second stanza with a turnaround jumper to extend Radford's lead to 23-19. From there, Campbell embarked on a 12-2 surge to go in front, 31-25. With the Lady Camels already ahead 42-33 with 12 minutes showing on the clock, the squad mounted a 13-0 run that gave Campbell its largest lead of the night of 22 (55-33) with 6:50 remaining.

The Highlanders could get no closer than 14 down the stretch, as Campbell swept the season series against Radford.

Having to regroup quickly, the Highlanders host High Point as part of a Big South doubleheader inside the Dedmon Center on Saturday. The men's squad welcomes Presbyterian College at 2:00 p.m. and the women battle the Panthers at 4:30 p.m.

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