CRITICAL ROAD GAME IN STORE FOR HIGHLANDERS IN ASHEVILLE

Jan. 20, 2015 :: 7:00 p.m.
Kimmel Arena (3,200) :: Asheville, N.C.
Video: Big South Network
Radio: Radford Sports Network
Live Stats: Link

RADFORD, Va. – Following its first loss in nearly a month, the Radford women's basketball team will look to bounce back Tuesday at 7 p.m. when the Highlanders meet UNC Asheville on the hardwood for a Big South clash inside Kimmel Arena in Asheville, N.C.

RADFORD ROUNDUP
Not only will the Highlanders (8-9, 5-3 Big South) look to return to the win column, but they will also be aiming to avenge a 43-42 loss to Asheville in the first round of the 2014 VisitMyrtleBeach.com Big South Women's Basketball Tournament.

RU and the Bulldogs met three times last season. Each side won on the opposing team's home court, in addition to Asheville's win in the conference tournament. Radford continues to lead the head-to-head series quite favorably, 46-19. The Highlanders had won four in a row in the series before Asheville defeated them, 68-61, inside the Dedmon Center on Jan. 11, 2014.

Senior Ayana Avery is the only double-figure scorer for RU at 10.8 points per game. She is one of the Highlanders' top threats from beyond the arc. The 5-foot-5 guard has a Big South-best 42 3-pointers through 17 contests. Her 2.5 3-pointers per game also rank first in the Big South.

Over in the rebounding department, freshman Janayla White pulls down 8.2 caroms per contest. Her average ranks eighth in the conference. On top of her rebounding, White is tied for third in the Big South in blocks per game, rejecting 1.8 shots per outing. In conference-only games, RU ranks second in the league with its +5.0 rebounding margin.

Paced by Aisha Foy's .393 clip from long range, Radford tops the Big South in 3-point field goal percentage (.326). Foy is one of two Highlanders who average over 30 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

SCOUTING UNC ASHEVILLE
The Bulldogs (4-13, 3-5 Big South) snapped a seven-game losing streak in their last time out, defeating Gardner-Webb (64-55) on the road. Asheville, which ranks ninth in the league in scoring (58.3), reached at least 60 points for the first time since Dec. 21 of last year.

The Bulldogs are one of the more experienced teams in the conference. They have 11 returners off their 2013-14 squad that finished with 11 wins, the most for the program in four seasons. Asheville's tournament win over RU marked its first postseason victory in seven years.

Shonese Jones guides the Bulldogs in scoring at 10.8 points per game. KJ Weaver hauls in a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game.

The 3-point line will be a key factor considering RU leads the league in 3-point field goal percentage, while Asheville ranks second in the Big South in defending the 3-ball (.277). In conference-only games, the Bulldogs are even better at limiting opponents beyond the arc—leading the league at .245.

Asheville only averages 37.2 rebounds per game, so the Highlanders will definitely have the opportunity for second-chance points. However, Radford is coming off a season-low 33 rebounds against Campbell.

UP NEXT
Radford returns to the Dedmon Center for Saturday's Big South doubleheader with the men. Defending Big South regular-season champion High Point will collide with the Radford women at 2 p.m. The 4:30 p.m. men's game features an in-state battle between RU and Liberty. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN3.

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Players Mentioned

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

#3 Aisha Foy: G; 5' 6"; Junior

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

Players Mentioned

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

#3 Aisha Foy
: 5' 6"; Junior
: G

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

Players Mentioned

#5 Ayana Avery

#3 Aisha Foy

#21 Janayla White

Players Mentioned

#5 Ayana Avery

#3 Aisha Foy

#21 Janayla White