HIGHLANDERS PREPARE FOR COMMONWEALTH CLASH AT UVa TO OPEN SEASON

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RADFORD, Va. – Led by second-year head coach Mike McGuire, the Radford women's basketball team opens its 2014-15 campaign against in-state rival Virginia at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville. Tipoff is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.

Joey Truncale will have the call courtside. Fans can follow along by clicking the audio link at the top of the page and then click on the "Live Events" tab.

RADFORD IN SEASON OPENERS
Radford is 22-21 all-time in season openers following its 74-38 triumph over Emory & Henry last year. The Highlanders are 3-2 in their last five season openers, with all wins coming at home. Mike McGuire is 1-0 in season openers as a head coach. As an assistant at Richmond, McGuire was 5-0 in season openers.

SCOUTING VIRGINIA
The Cavaliers opened their season Friday night with an impressive 87-82 come-from-behind win over visiting Ohio State.
Virginia returns seven players from last year's team, which posted a 14-17 record and ended its season in the second round of the ACC Tournament.

Headlining the returning group are Sarah Imovbioh and 2014 ACC Sixth Player of the Year, Faith Randolph. Imovbioh averaged 12.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, which ranked second and first, respectively, for UVa. Her rebounding average was the sixth-best mark among ACC players. The senior from Abuja, Nigeria, charted 10 double-doubles for the Cavaliers, including a 27-point, 10-rebound performance against Georgia Tech in the second round of the ACC Tournament.

Randolph led all ACC "bench" players in scoring, averaging 11.8 points per game, which ranked third on the team. This came after only averaging 5.0 points per game as a freshman. She appeared in every game on her way to ranking 14th in the ACC in free throw percentage (76.4).

In addition to their returning group, the Cavaliers add a top-15 recruiting class into the mix. Guards Mikayla Venson and Aliyah Huland El were five-star prospects coming out of high school, while forwards Lauren Moses and Jae'Lisa Allen were also part of the signing class.

UVa was predicted to finish 10th in the 2014-15 Blue Ribbon Panel Atlantic Coast Conference Preseason Poll and ninth in a polling of the 15 ACC head coaches.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN
RU's 2014-15 roster features 12 players representing five states and two countries. There are three players each from Virginia, North Carolina and Ohio. Tennessee and Illinois has one player apiece, while Claudia Quevedo represents Spain on the international scale. Radford has three seniors, two juniors, one redshirt sophomore and six freshmen. The Highlanders boast five players over six feet, compared to just three last season.

FRESH FACES
Radford has seven newcomers on its 2014-15 roster. Jordan Toohey, Brittany Allen, Janayla White, Jayda Worthy and Janelle James signed NLIs with the Highlanders last fall, while Gaby Gilmore (a JC transfer from Walters State) and Claudia Quevedo signed the dotted line earlier this year.

RICHMOND ROOTS
Radford head coach Mike McGuire and Virginia head coach Joanne Boyle both had stints at the University of Richmond. Boyle was the head coach of the Spiders from 2002-2005, compiling a 67-29 record in her three seasons. Postseason play was a common theme under Boyle, as UR went to one NCAA tournament and two WNITs.

In her last season (2004-05), Boyle guided Richmond to the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Spiders finished the season at 23-8, and Boyle was awarded the head coaching gig at California shortly thereafter. She spent six seasons with the Bears before taking the head job at UVa in 2011.

McGuire was an assistant coach under Boyle's successor, Michael Shafer, from 2008-13. UR continued its postseason success with five-straight WNIT appearances. In McGuire's five seasons in Richmond, the Spiders posted a 101-60 record.

HIGHLANDERS ON THE RUN
Look for Radford to play more of an up-tempo style offense this season. With only nine healthy players on the roster last season, the Highlanders were forced to stay in the halfcourt offense for the majority of the year. However, a 12-player roster bodes well for head coach Mike McGuire's up-tempo offense he likes to run.

AVERY ON BRINK OF HISTORY
With 17 more 3-pointers, senior guard Ayana Avery will break the Radford record for 3-pointers made in a career. She currently has 187 in her three seasons as a Highlander. Kylie Williamson (1999-04) holds the top spot with 203. Avery already set the single-season mark with 95 made 3-pointers in 2013-14.

The 5-foot-5 sharpshooter is also inching closer to the 1,000-point club. Avery has 870 career points entering her senior campaign. She would become the 21st member of the group.

UP NEXT
Radford returns to the Dedmon Center for a pair of home contests next week. The Highlanders' home opener is Thursday, Nov. 20 against Norfolk State at 5 p.m. They are back in action two days later against Youngstown State at 2 p.m.

Of Radford's first 10 games, seven will be inside the Dedmon Center. That is a drastic difference from last season where RU was on the road for seven of its first 10 games.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Ayana Avery: G; 5' 5"; Senior

#12 Brittany Allen: G; 5' 8"; Freshman

#23 Janelle James: C; 6' 3"; Freshman

#2 Jordan Toohey: G; 5' 10"; Freshman

#21 Janayla White: F; 6' 2"; Freshman

#22 Jayda Worthy: F; 6' 0"; Freshman

#11 Claudia Quevedo: G; 5' 9"; Freshman

#14 Gaby Gilmore: G; 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#5 Ayana Avery
: 5' 5"; Senior
: G

#12 Brittany Allen
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: G

#23 Janelle James
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: C

#2 Jordan Toohey
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: G

#21 Janayla White
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: F

#22 Jayda Worthy
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: F

#11 Claudia Quevedo
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: G

#14 Gaby Gilmore
: 5' 8"; Junior
: G