RADFORD STAGES SECOND-HALF COMEBACK BEHIND AVERY’S CAREER HIGH

Tuesday, January 27

RADFORD

7:00 PM

Radford University

11-9, 8-3BSC

Gardner-Webb

7-13, 3-8BSC

Team	1	2	F
Gardner-Webb	29	20	49
Radford	22	37	59

RADFORD STAGES SECOND-HALF COMEBACK BEHIND AVERY’S CAREER HIGH

1/27/2015 10:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Follow @Radford_WBB

RADFORD, Va. – Behind a career-high 27 points from senior Ayana Avery, the Radford women's basketball team took down conference foe Gardner-Webb, 59-49, Tuesday night inside the Dedmon Center.

Thanks to Avery's offensive outburst, the Highlanders (11-9, 8-3 Big South) were able to overcome a poor shooting night (35.3 percent). The 5-foot-5 guard, who leads the Big South in 3-pointers made per game, connected on 7-of-10 from behind the arc.

Aisha Foy made a living at the free-throw line, converting 9-of-10 attempts on her way to 15 points. As a team, Radford shot 65 percent (13-20) from the charity stripe.

RU trailed, 29-22, at intermission in large part to 22.6 percent shooting in the opening stanza. Avery led all scorers at the break with 11 points.

"I thought we came out a little sluggish in the first half," head coach Mike McGuire said. "Gardner-Webb had a good game plan. I want to credit their effort. They definitely outplayed us in the first half. We didn't seem rattled being down seven at halftime. We continued to fight back. Defensively, we continued to get better as the game progressed. I am proud of our effort and the resiliency we showed to close the game."

The Highlanders trailed by as many as 10 (35-25) just three minutes into the second half. However, an Avery 3-pointer ignited a 26-6 rally that propelled Radford in front for the remainder of the game. Avery accounted for 13 points during the game-changing run.

"Our team continues to show heart…our team just really has no quit," McGuire said. "Just thinking back to where we were in November, we've really grown as a basketball team. I'm really proud of the progress we're making as we're finding ways to win."

Jayda Worthy collected 10 of Radford's 46 rebounds to notch her third double-digit rebounding effort of the season. The Highlanders were able to outrebound Gardner-Webb, 46-42, despite the Runnin' Bulldogs (7-13, 3-8 Big South) pulling down 18 offensive boards.

Olivia Parker paced the visitors with 15 points and 16 rebounds, tallying a double-double on the night. Jessica Heilig dropped in 10 points. GWU only shot 28.1 percent, marking the ninth straight game Radford held its opponent to below 40 percent shooting.

RU, which has won eight of its last nine games, now gears up for next Monday's in-state showdown with Big South-leading Liberty in Lynchburg, Va. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. inside the Vines Center.

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