BUZZER-BEATER ENDS RADFORD’S SEASON IN FIRST ROUND

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CONWAY, S.C. – UNC Asheville used a 16-3 run and a buzzer-beater by Shonese Jones to complete a late second-half comeback Tuesday as the Bulldogs prevailed, 43-42, over Radford in the first round of the 2014 VisitMyrtleBeach.com Big South Women's Basketball Championship at The HTC Center.

With the win, No. 8 seed UNC Asheville (11-19) advances to the quarterfinals where it will face No. 1 seed High Point at noon. The Highlanders end their season at 7-23.

"First of all, I'd like to congratulate UNC Asheville on a hard-fought game," head coach Mike McGuire said. "Obviously, that was not the way we wanted to end it. [UNC Asheville] made some critical plays at the end, and that is what you have to do at this stage of the season. I'm very proud to be the head coach at Radford and look forward to our future."

Radford seemed as if it was going to pull away just past the midway point of the second stanza. Rachael Ross collected an offensive rebound and converted the second opportunity to give the Highlanders their largest lead of the game (39-27) with 9:04 remaining.

Unfortunately for RU, Ayana Avery's 3-pointer with 2:52 showing on the clock accounted for the Highlanders' final points of the game. Radford's cold spell allowed the Bulldogs to chip away at its deficit. After Avery's trey, which put the Highlanders ahead by six, Jeannie Buckner drained a 3-pointer and Leah Wormack connected on a jumper to pull UNC Asheville within 42-41 with 16 seconds to go.

Following a missed free throw, the Bulldogs gathered the defensive rebound and looked to score in transition. UNC Asheville got three opportunities to net the game-winner, with the third being Jones' tip-in at the buzzer.

Avery nearly finished with a double-double, scoring 11 points and snaring nine rebounds. She knocked down 3-of-6 from long range to finish the season with 95, which is a single-season record for the Highlanders. Ross also flirted with a double-double, tallying eight points and eight rebounds. Radford shot 35.8 percent for the game.

Tianna Knuckles matched Avery with 11 points for the Bulldogs. Jones was next in line with nine points. UNC Asheville outscored the Highlanders, 16-0, in points off turnovers. In addition to shooting 24.6 percent, the Bulldogs won the battle of the boards (47-44). UNC Asheville had 13 of its 17 offensive rebounds in the second half.

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