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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Avery-20150228-1
63
Radford RAD 17-12, 14-6 BSC
83
Winner High Point HPU 18-11, 14-6 BSC
Radford RAD
17-12, 14-6 BSC
63
Final
83
High Point HPU
18-11, 14-6 BSC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Radford RAD 27 36 63
High Point HPU 49 34 83

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

FIRST HALF DOOMS RADFORD IN REGULAR-SEASON FINALE AT HIGH POINT



HIGH POINT, N.C. – Radford could not overcome a dismal first half where High Point built a 22-point halftime lead en route to a 83-63 Big South women's basketball victory over the Highlanders, Saturday evening inside the Millis Center.
 
Thanks to the win, the Panthers (18-11, 14-6 Big South) captured the No. 3 seed for next week's Big South Women's Basketball Championship inside The HTC Center in Conway, S.C. Meanwhile, Radford (17-12, 14-6 Big South) clinched the No. 2 seed and will meet the winner between Gardner-Webb and Longwood in Thursday's quarterfinals at 6 p.m.
 
"High Point was terrific today," head coach Mike McGuire said. "However, I am disappointed in how we played, in our lack of detail and in our lack of effort. We didn't respond to their early run, and when you don't respond against a team who is having its Senior Day and is motivated to play you, the result is going to end up like this. High Point proved they were better than us today, but our team is better than this, and that is what is frustrating to me."
 
The trio of Kaylah Keys, Stacia Robertson and Latrice Phelps combined for 65 of the Panthers' 83 points. Keys, the Big South preseason player of the year, dropped in a game-high 28 points on 10 of 12 shooting. She nailed all four of her 3-point attempts. Robertson scored 16 of her 20 points in the first frame, while Phelps contributed 17 points and a team-best nine rebounds.
 
HPU capitalized on Radford's mistakes, claiming a 25-13 advantage in points off turnovers. RU committed 14 of its 19 turnovers during the opening 20 minutes of action. In addition, the Panthers shot 59.4 percent in the first half, while holding Radford to 33.3 percent.
 
Led by Janayla White's seventh 10-plus-rebound performance of the season, the Highlanders won the battle of the boards, 34-29. Ayana Avery dialed up 16 points on 6 of 7 shooting to move into 10th place all-time in career scoring at RU with 1,180. Jayda Worthy reached double figures for the fifth time this season behind 14 points on 5 of 8 shooting.
 
However, the Highlanders struggled to disrupt High Point's offensive rhythm. The Panthers, who finished the game with a 57.4 percent shooting efficiency, dropped a season-high 83 points on Radford's defense that had only allowed one other opponent (William & Mary) to score above 80 points prior to Saturday.
 
On the other hand, RU shot 40 percent for the game, including a 46.4 percent clip in the final 20 minutes where the Highlanders outscored HPU, 36-34. Radford had a season-low three assists on 22 made field goals.
 
Despite the result, the Highlanders concluded the regular season tied for second place in the conference standings for the first time since 2010-11.
 
"It's time to regroup now," McGuire suggested. "Everyone is back to 0-0. I thought our regular season was very good, especially to earn the No. 2 seed for the tournament. I am very proud of what our team has accomplished, but now it's time to prepare to make our best run next week."

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