RADFORD RETURNS TO POSTSEASON WNIT WEDNESDAY AT EAST CAROLINA

March 18, 2015 :: 7:00 p.m.
Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum (8,000) :: Greenville, N.C.
Video: Pirates on Demand
Radio: Radford Sports Network
Live Stats: Link

RADFORD, Va. – For the sixth time in program history, the Radford women's basketball team will be competing in a postseason tournament as the Highlanders gear up for Wednesday's clash at East Carolina in the first round of the WNIT. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum in Greenville, N.C.

RADFORD ROUNDUP
RU (17-13) will look to rebound from a disappointing exit in the Big South Tournament two weeks ago. Gardner-Webb knocked out the Highlanders in the quarterfinals, 70-56. More importantly, Radford's WNIT bid gives the Highlanders another opportunity to add another accomplishment to a remarkable second season under head coach Mike McGuire.

Radford, which has already recorded its most wins since 2007-08, will look to achieve something only one other team in program history has accomplished—win a postseason game. The 1988-89 team notched a pair of wins in the 1989 WNIT, defeating Richmond and DePaul in Amarillo, Texas.

On the strength of those two victories, the Highlanders have a 2-2 record in the WNIT. RU, which last appeared in the WNIT in 2008, is making its third appearance in the 64-team postseason tournament. The Highlanders have also advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times.

A win Wednesday would even the head-to-head series with ECU at two games apiece. RU last played the Pirates on Dec. 30, 1993 in Orlando, Fla. Ironically, the Highlanders' only victory in the three-game series was at East Carolina. Radford defeated ECU, 65-60, on Dec. 13, 1985. The Pirates won the first-ever meeting between the two programs, 78-67, on Jan. 26, 1985 in Radford.

Senior sharpshooter Ayana Avery, who ranks 10^th all-time in RU career scoring (1,191), leads the Highlanders at 10.7 points per game. Junior point guard Aisha Foy is right behind at 10.3 points per game. The All-Big South duo accounts for 76.3 percent (116-152) of the Highlanders' 3-pointers made. Avery leads the Big South with her 2.4 triples per contest and ranks fourth all-time in league history in career 3-pointers made (260).

Over in the rebounding department, Jordynn Gaymon and Janayla White both pull down 7.3 caroms per contest. In Radford's last game, Gaymon became the 18^th Highlander in program history to reach 500 career rebounds. On top of her rebounding, White rejects 1.8 shots per outing. She is one block away from surpassing Kelli Darden for the most blocks ever recorded by an RU freshman.

SCOUTING EAST CAROLINA
ECU (21-10) is making its third straight WNIT appearance and fourth in the last six years. The Pirates' selection marks the first time in program history they have earned a postseason berth in three consecutive seasons.

East Carolina owns a 1-3 record in the WNIT. Its first win came in 2010 when the Pirates took down Drexel, 78-76, in overtime in Philadelphia. Since that win, ECU has lost three straight in the postseason tournament (Maryland, Western Kentucky and George Washington).

The Pirates have eclipsed the 20-win plateau the last three seasons under head coach Heather Macy. The fifth-year head coach has Big South ties. She was an assistant coach at High Point from 2002-04.

Jada Payne, an All-American Athletic Conference honoree, averages a team-best 16.8 points per game. She does a great deal of her damage from beyond the arc, having buried 73 3-pointers on 40.8 shooting. Payne is nearly automatic from the free-throw line, converting 88 percent of her attempts.

I'Tiana Taylor commands the post for ECU, averaging 11.3 points per game and nine rebounds per game. The 6-foot-1 junior college transfer was named the AAC Newcomer of the Year in addition to collecting All-AAC second team honors.

Five Pirates average above 30 percent shooting from downtown. As a team, East Carolina connects on 34.4 percent of its 3-point attempts.

UP NEXT
With a win Wednesday, Radford would advance to the second round where it will face the winner between East Tennessee State and NC State. The second round is scheduled between Saturday, March 21 and Tuesday, March 24.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#24 Jordynn Gaymon: F; 6' 1"; Senior

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

#24 Jordynn Gaymon
: 6' 1"; Senior
: F

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