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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
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68
Winner Radford RAD 2-3
67
Appalachian State APP 3-2
Winner
Radford RAD
2-3
68
Final
67
Appalachian State APP
3-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Radford RAD 40 28 68
Appalachian State APP 37 30 67

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

RADFORD ESCAPES APPALACHIAN STATE WITH 68-67 THRILLER



BOONE, N.C. – Aisha Foy knocked down a pull-up jumper with 2:05 remaining, and Radford clamped down defensively the rest of the way for the Highlanders to edge Appalachian State, 68-67, in nonconference women's basketball action Sunday afternoon inside the Holmes Center.
 
After Foy put Radford (2-3) on top, 68-65, with just over two minutes to go, Katie Mallow answered for the Mountaineers (3-2) with 1:46 remaining on a layup from the right side. Following an RU turnover, senior Kiera McIvor took one of her two charges on the day to get the ball back for the Highlanders.
 
A couple missed field goals from both sides ensued over the next minute. App State got the final stop to set up the dramatic finish with 13 seconds remaining. Out of a timeout, Mallow was able to get a shot off against Radford's suffocating defense with six seconds on the clock, but was too strong. Maryah Sydnor was there to haul in the offensive board, but her putback attempt slid off the side of the rim, which sent the RU bench into jubilation.
 
"I thought this was a really fun game to be a part of," head coach Mike McGuire said. "I am really proud of our team for the way we competed. App State is a very good basketball team led by an incredible senior in Maryah Sydnor. Our team continued to fight when we were down in the first half. We are growing as a basketball team. Overall, I could not be happier for this group. We needed a win like this to give us a boost."
 
All 10 players who entered for the Highlanders scored, which validates Coach McGuire's perspective on his team's depth.
 
"I told the team in preseason I believe we have the ability to play 10, 11, 12 players, and they can all contribute something every game. If we buy into that, this team is going to become very good. I like our depth. Each one of them brings something different to the team. Hopefully, we can build on this and continue to build confidence with our depth and confidence with different lineups and rotations."
 
An argument could be made the game was decided at the free throw line. The Highlanders shot an impressive 75 percent (18-24) from the charity stripe, including a 14-18 performance in the opening stanza. Five of those free throws came during a 10-0 run by Radford that allowed the visitors to turn a seven-point deficit into a three-point lead (22-19) with 6:20 to go before halftime. RU rode that momentum en route to a 40-37 advantage at intermission.
 
Meanwhile, the hosts converted 14-of-22 (63.6 percent) from the charity stripe. In all, 48 fouls were called in the highly physical affair.
 
A pair of freshmen filled up the scoring column for RU as Janayla White and Claudia Quevedo notched 11 points apiece. White also racked up a season-high 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. On the strength of White's rebounding effort, Radford outrebounded the Mountaineers, 49-37.
 
"When [Janayla] is rebounding and she is a post presence, our basketball team is different," McGuire pointed out about his freshman forward. "She forces the opponent to really focus on her, which opens up things on the outside. We were able to play inside-out much more effectively today."
 
Quevedo was dialed in from long range, canning two of her four attempts. The freshman guard scored the Highlanders' final four points of the first half and the first five points of the second half. McIvor and Ayana Avery contributed nine and eight points, respectively.
 
RU connected on 22-of-61 (36.1 percent) from the floor, including 6-of-16 (37.5 percent) from 3-point land. App State shot 38.5 percent (25-65) overall, but just 20 percent (3-15) from beyond the arc.
 
Sydnor, who entered Sunday leading the Sun Belt Conference in scoring at 22.5 points per game, was held to 5-of-13 shooting in the nearly 40 minutes she played. The Radford native still managed a team-high 15 points and nine rebounds. Mallow was right behind with 14 points. The Mountaineers' top threat from outside was kept in check, only hitting one 3-ball in the contest.
 
Radford returns home for its next five games. The Highlanders tip off their five-game homestand Tuesday at 7 p.m. against William & Mary inside the Dedmon Center.

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