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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
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72
Winner Liberty LIBERTY 5-2, 1-0 BSC
63
Radford RAD 2-5, 0-1 BSC
Winner
Liberty LIBERTY
5-2, 1-0 BSC
72
Final
63
Radford RAD
2-5, 0-1 BSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Liberty LIBERTY 39 33 72
Radford RAD 33 30 63

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

RADFORD COMES UP SHORT IN UPSET BID AGAINST LIBERTY, 72-63



RADFORD, Va. – Trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half, Radford used a strong performance on the glass to claw its way back into Saturday's Big South women's basketball contest against Liberty, eventually taking a 49-45 edge with 10:13 to go. However, the Flames countered with a 12-0 run over the next six minutes to regain the lead and hold on for the 72-63 victory inside the Dedmon Center.
 
"I felt like we competed well today," head coach Mike McGuire expressed. "In the second half, I thought we did a good job of getting back in the ball game and eventually taking the lead. We are going to have to get better in execution moving forward. I thought there was a stretch [in the second half] where we did a very good job defensively, limiting Liberty to one-shot possessions. And that gave us the four-point lead [49-45]. There's a lot we can build on from this game."
 
The beginning of the 62nd meeting between Radford and the Flames did not get off to a promising start for the home side. Karly Buer, Liberty's leading scorer at 13 points per game, nearly had her season average in the opening six minutes. The 5-foot-7 guard hit her first four shots from the floor, including a jumper at the 13:57 mark to give Liberty (5-2, 1-0 Big South) a 17-6 advantage.
 
However, the Highlanders (2-5, 0-1 Big South) did not fold. With Liberty still ahead by 11 (32-21), Radford embarked on a 12-2 run capped by a Claudia Quevedo 3-pointer to trim the Highlanders' deficit to 34-33 with 1:09 remaining in the opening stanza. The Flames scored the final five points of the first half to snatch a 39-33 favor at intermission.
 
Behind four points by sophomore forward Simone Brown, Liberty extended its lead to double digits (43-33) just over two minutes into the second half.
 
Once again, Radford's defense was up to the challenge. A free throw by junior guard Aisha Foy ignited a 13-2 surge for the Highlanders, which gave them their first lead of the day (46-45) with 11:02 showing on the clock. RU stretched its lead to 49-45 moments later before the Flames mounted their game-changing rally.
 
Despite the result, the Highlanders have a huge positive to take from this game. Radford beat Liberty in a category the team is not used to losing: rebounding. Going up against three Flames who were 6-foot-4 or taller did not deter the scrappy Highlanders, who won the battle of the boards, 47-29. Interestingly, RU had more offensive (24) than defensive (23) rebounds. Radford's effort on the glass even surprised Coach McGuire.
 
"I had no idea we outrebounded [Liberty] by that margin, but that is the kind of effort [a team] needs to compete with Liberty. If we continue to rebound like that, and we start to execute better, this team will be special. I do like our post play. I think we have four pieces inside that are very good. They are all different. They bring different things to the table. Our [rebounding margin] in this game is a big positive we can take as we move forward in conference play."
 
Just how impressive was the Highlanders' rebounding margin? Prior to today's game, Liberty had not been outrebounded by 10 or more rebounds since Nov. 26, 2010 at nationally-ranked Baylor. A player by the name of Brittney Griner played in that game for the Bears.
 
Leading the way in the rebounding department was Jordynn Gaymon, who tied her career high with 14. She narrowly missed her second double-double of the season by dropping in nine points.
 
Ayana Avery paced the Highlanders in scoring with 20 points, which included a 4-for-8 performance from 3-point land. The senior guard tied the RU record for 3-pointers made in a career (203) with 14:16 remaining in the game. She will go for the record next Saturday against Coastal Carolina in front of her home crowd inside the Dedmon Center.
 
Joining Avery in double-figure scoring was Quevedo, who dialed up 12 points. Radford finished the game at 34.8 percent shooting, which included a 45.2 percent clip in the opening 20 minutes.
 
Liberty's free throw opportunities proved to be costly for the Highlanders. The Flames connected on 26-of-31 from the charity stripe, compared to just a 9-of-14 effort by RU.
 
"I thought free throws were a deciding factor in this game," McGuire pointed out. "I mean 26-9 [made free throws] is more than the ball game right there. We have got to be more disciplined defensively. I like this team a lot. This team is going to get better. This team has a high ceiling, and I like where we are heading even though we are 2-5 right now."
 
Buer led all scorers with 26 points on 8-of-11 shooting for the Flames. She knocked down all eight of her attempts from the free throw line. Brown also reached double figures, scoring 12 of her 18 points in the second stanza. Liberty shot 43.8 percent for the game and outscored RU, 27-16, in points off turnovers.

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