RADFORD’S VALIANT COMEBACK FALLS SHORT AS HIGH POINT HOLDS ON, 65-57

BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. – Radford was able to erase a 10-point second-half deficit, but High Point converted its free throws in the closing minutes to escape with a 65-57 victory in Big South women's basketball action inside the Dedmon Center Saturday evening.

Scoring 10 of her game-high 20 points in the first half, Ashley Buckhannon was 3-of-6 from deep and added a season-high seven assists for the Highlanders (12-10, 7-6 Big South). Joining her backcourt mate in double figures was Da'Naria Erwin Spencer with 10 points.

In addition to shooting 38.6 percent (22-of-57) for the game, High Point (14-9, 8-4 Big South) hit 68.8 percent of its freebies, including 83.3 percent in the critical second stanza. Four Panthers finished in double digits, led by Tayler Tremblay's 16.

Cheyenne Parker posted her second straight 20-rebound performance to go along with 14 points. Lexi Patterson and Lindsay Puckett chalked up 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the visitors.

“I admire our determination to keep fighting and try to pull off the comeback,” head coach Tajama Abraham Ngongba said. “Unlike the Campbell game, we remained calm and were able to execute our offense to eventually tie the game.”

Falling behind 9-5 in the beginning stages of the game, an Erwin Spencer pull-up jumper sparked a 9-0 streak to vault Radford on top, 14-9 with 11:05 remaining in the first frame. Responding with a 7-0 surge, High Point reclaimed the lead (16-14) at the 7:25 mark. The lead changed four times from there until break as the Panthers captured a 27-25 edge at intermission.

HPU built five-point leads on three separate occasions to open the second half. Trailing 34-29, Victoria Hamilton converted an and-one and Ayana Avery drilled a 3-pointer from the right wing to put the Highlanders in front once more at the 16:15 mark.

Answering with an 11-0 run, High Point surged ahead 45-35 with 12:49 to go. RU began chipping away at its deficit and eventually came all the way back to tie the score at 57 following two Sarah Tabb free throws with three minutes showing on the clock.

However, the Highlanders could not get ahead as HPU nailed 8-of-8 from the charity stripe down the stretch to secure the win.

“It's disappointing to not pull off the win, but we have to move on and get ready for Longwood,” Ngongba expressed.

The Lancers will host Radford for the first time as a Big South foe on Thursday, Feb. 14 at Willett Hall. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

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