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60
Radford RAD 3-8
73
Winner Virginia Tech VT 8-4
Radford RAD
3-8
60
Final
73
Virginia Tech VT
8-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Radford RAD 27 33 60
Virginia Tech VT 28 45 73

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

WORTHY NOTCHES DOUBLE-DOUBLE IN 73-60 LOSS AT VIRGINIA TECH



BLACKSBURG, Va. – Freshman forward Jayda Worthy delivered her first double-double of the season behind 13 points and 10 rebounds, but Virginia Tech was able to derail Radford's upset bid with an offensive surge late in the second half to hold on for a 73-60 nonconference women's basketball win Sunday afternoon inside Cassell Coliseum.
 
"I was proud of our effort," head coach Mike McGuire said after the game. "I thought we came in here with the mindset to compete, and for the most part, we did. The frustrating thing for me is we pick and choose when we want to compete. It was a one-point game at halftime. We executed the game plan as well as we probably could have. Then in the second half, as the game progressed, Tech's tempo in the halfcourt offense caught us off guard some, which led to a lot of fouls. We have got to learn to establish more toughness. We are proving we can play for a half, but we have to be better when there is a little fatigue. But for the most part, I am really proud of our team and the way we responded after Thursday night's performance."
 
Radford (3-8) did not look anything like the team that took the floor against West Virginia State, Thursday night. RU also did not look anything like the team that lost to Tech by 49 points last season. The Highlanders were much more focused, much more aggressive, and as a result, they only trailed 28-27 at halftime.
 
Both teams shot well in the opening stanza, finishing above 40 percent from the field. However, the Hokies (8-4) were even warmer in the second half. They finished at 47.1 percent, which included a 54.2 percent mark in the second half. In comparison, Radford shot 39.6 percent.
 
Despite Tech shooting lights out in the final frame, the Highlanders did not go down easily. The Hokies led by 11 (51-40) with 10 minutes to go before Radford mounted its charge. Behind five points from Worthy, the Highlanders manufactured a 9-2 run to close the gap to 53-49 with 6:22 showing on the clock. However, that four-point margin was as close as RU could get the rest of the way.
 
"We did a great job getting back into the game," McGuire pointed out. "We needed a shot to fall, we needed a couple better possessions and we needed a couple stops. I think that's one thing we have to learn from is there are so many little things that can add up and snowball pretty quickly from a two-possession game to being down 10. If you're down 10 against a good team like Virginia Tech, they make it tough to come back."
 
Worthy was nearly flawless in knocking down five of her seven attempts from the floor. The 6-foot freshman also converted 3-of-4 from the charity stripe. Her 10 rebounds were a season high.
 
"Jayda was outstanding," McGuire had to say about his freshman forward. "Jayda was competitive today—she fought. I thought she made good decisions. We are a little undersized against a team like Virginia Tech, so for Jayda to get 10 rebounds—that's what we need from her every game."
 
McGuire's praise didn't stop at Worthy. He was also complementary of junior guard Aisha Foy, who came off the bench for the first time this season and scored a season-high 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting. She was 3-for-6 from beyond the arc, with her last 3-pointer capping the aforementioned 9-2 run.
 
"Aisha was solid and more assertive offensively for us today," McGuire expressed. "She was looking for her shot when she was open. Aisha hadn't been doing that the last couple games. We are a much better basketball team when she performs at this level."
 
In addition to Worthy and Foy, senior guard Ayana Avery reached double figures for the sixth time this season with 11 points. Despite Tech's height advantage, RU outrebounded the Hokies, 39-34.
 
Rachel Camp, the reigning ACC Freshman of the Week, and Vanessa Panousis dialed up 22 and 21 points, respectively, to pace the Hokies in the scoring column. The win marked Tech's fourth in a row and the 600th in program history.
 
Upon their return from Christmas, the Highlanders will dive back into Big South competition with a road game at Gardner-Webb on Dec. 30. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Paul Porter Arena in Boiling Springs, N.C.

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