RADFORD OPENS TWO-GAME HOMESTAND WITH HIGH POINT

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RADFORD, Va. – Radford readies for a critical week of Big South women's basketball as the Highlanders (10-8, 6-3 Big South) host High Point (6-12, 5-4 Big South) inside the Dedmon Center Tuesday at 7 p.m. to open a two-game homestand. It will be the last back-to-back home games of the season for RU.

SETTING THE STAGE
- Series: High Point leads, 25-16
- Location: Dedmon Center (Radford ,Va.)
- Time: 7 p.m.
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LAST MEETING
The Highlanders and the Panthers met in both teams' Big South opener on Dec. 5 at the Millis Center in High Point, N.C., dropping a 71-66 decision. Down 34-25, Radford roared back behind back-to-back 3-pointers by Gaby Gilmore and Aisha Foy to close the gap 34-31 at halftime.

RU led by as many as seven (43-36) in the second half, but ultimately the Highlanders could not overcome an 8 for 18 performance at the free-throw line.

Foy led all scorers with 20 points, going 5 for 6 from 3-point range. Janayla White delivered a double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds), while Lydia Rivers narrowly missed one with nine points and 10 rebounds. Lindsey Edwards guided four double-figure scorers for High Point with 14.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS
Radford will look to improve upon its outstanding 8-1 record inside the Dedmon Center when the Panthers visit the New River Valley. After dropping a hard-fought 54-50 conference tilt at Gardner-Webb Saturday, the Highlanders find themselves a game out of first place in the league standings. RU has a great chance to make a move as many of the top teams in the Big South play one another this week.

The Highlanders were bolstered by the return of Janayla White and Jayda Worthy to the starting lineup last Saturday. Radford had 10 available players for the first time since Nov. 20 at Youngstown State.

Foy leads the Highlanders in the scoring column, averaging 13.6 points per game, which rank seventh among Big South players. The Virginia Beach, Va., native is heating up from 3-point land. Her 37.5 percent accuracy from 3-point range ranks third in the conference.

Janayla White joins Foy in double-figure scoring at 11.6 points per game. White returned in a big way Saturday, recording her third straight double-double behind 15 points and a career-high 21 rebounds. The sophomore has brought down at least 15 rebounds in the last three games to increase her season average to a Big South-leading 9.8 rebounds per game. Her 21 rebounds against Gardner-Webb were three shy of the program's single-game record of 24 tallied by Nan Millner in 1981.

Radford continues to be a force on the glass, ranking first in rebounds per game (43.3) and rebounding margin (+10.2). The Highlanders have only been outrebounded twice (NC State and Virginia Tech). They have tallied a double-figure rebounding margin in eight games this season, including the previous five contests.

SCOUTING HIGH POINT
High Point is coming off a heart-breaking 82-81 home setback to UNC Asheville, who is one of four teams tied for first place in the Big South standings entering this week. Junior guard Kaylah Keys paced the Panthers with 21 points, which moved her past 2014-15 Big South player of the year Stacia Robertson for fourth place on High Point's Division I scoring list (1,286).

Keys ranks second among Big South players in scoring at 14.8 points per game. She has the potential to change a game in a hurry behind her sharp shooting from beyond the arc.

Like Radford, High Point features a very young roster. In fact, the two programs are tied for the most underclassmen in the league with 10. Five of the Panthers' top six scorers are underclassmen and their top two rebounders are freshmen.

HPU is in the midst of a difficult stretch of conference games. Beginning with last Saturday's game vs. UNC Asheville, the Panthers have or will play all five teams that are ahead of them in the Big South standings.

High Point plays an up-tempo style despite only averaging 64.2 points per game. On the other side of the ball, the Panthers allow 71.7 points per game, which are the most by any Big South team. HPU is an efficient free-throw shooting team, connecting on 71.3 percent of its trips to the charity stripe. Kat Harris, a sophomore guard, leads all Big South players with an 81.8 free-throw accuracy.

UP NEXT
Radford prepares to host Big South co-leader UNC Asheville Saturday at 2 p.m. inside the Dedmon Center. The Highlanders swept the 2014-15 season series and lead the all-time series, 48-19.

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Players Mentioned

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

#14 Gaby Gilmore: G; 5' 7"; Senior

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

#22 Jayda Worthy: F; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#20 Lydia Rivers: F; 6' 2"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

#14 Gaby Gilmore
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G

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

#22 Jayda Worthy
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: F

#20 Lydia Rivers
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: F