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Radford Athletics Communications
56
Radford RAD (0-1)
70
Winner George Mason MASON (1-0)
Radford RAD
(0-1)
56
Final
70
George Mason MASON
(1-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Radford RAD 5 18 16 17 56
George Mason MASON 16 21 20 13 70

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

RADFORD FALLS TO GEORGE MASON IN SEASON OPENER, 70-56



GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: George Mason 70, Radford 56
  • Records: Patriots (1-0) | Highlanders (0-1)
  • Location: EagleBank Arena | Fairfax, Va.
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – Radford was unable to capture their third season opening win in the last four years as George Mason avenged last season's overtime loss to the Highlanders with a 70-56 win after shooting over 80-percent from the free-throw line, Friday night inside the EagleBank Arena

George Mason opened the contest with an early 12-2 lead, highlighted by a 10-point swing on seven Radford turnovers. Chinyere Bell contributed five points during the run. The Highlanders ended the Patriot run as Destinee Walker found Lydia Rivers in the paint for a layup as Radford headed into the second quarter trailing 16-5 after committing eight opening quarter turnovers.
 
Walker opened the second quarter with four straight points to cut the early deficit to 16-9 at the 9:17 mark. After Radford cut the lead to seven, the Patriots rattled off eight straight points as Tiffany Padgett's 3-pointer forced a Highlander timeout, trailing 24-9 with 7:06 remaining in the second quarter.
 
Coming out of the timeout, Radford's offense started clicking as Rachael Ross and Sydney Nunley collected back-to-back layups, pulling the Highlanders within 28-19. Khiana Johnson followed with a jumper at the top of the key for her first collegiate points, cutting the Patriot lead to 30-21 with 2:11 remaining in the first half.
 
After the Johnson jumper, George Mason closed out the opening half on a 7-2 run as Patriots took the ball coast-to-coast with five seconds on the clock. Kari Wright hit a running 3-pointer to beat the buzzer, sending George Mason into the locker room with a 37-23 edge.
 
George Mason shot 40-percent in the first half, while making 11 of 14 free throws. Radford only got two shots to fall in the first quarter, but added 18 points in the second quarter on six baskets and 5 for 7 shooting from behind the charity stripe.
 
The third quarter saw a three-minute span in which both teams only made one field goal, a Nunley jumper at the 3:39 mark. In the span the two in-state foes made 11 free throws.
 
Claudia Quevedo knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the George Mason lead to 49-36, before the Patriots closed out the quarter on a 7-0 run.
 
Radford outscored George Mason 17-13 in the fourth quarter on three 3-pointers, but wasn't enough as the Patriots cruised to a 70-56 season opening victory.  
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Radford falls to 24-23 in season openers.
  • Destinee Walker just missed matching a career high in points, finishing with a team-high 12 points on 3 of 5 shooting from the field. Walker paced the Highlanders from the free-throw line, going 5 for 8.
  • In collegiate debut, Khiana Johnson finished with 10 points.
  • Sydney Nunley finished with seven points and six rebounds, including two on the offensive glass before fouling out.
  • Jayda Worthy filled out the stat sheet; finishing with eight points, five rebounds, four assists and four blocks.
  • She has led the Highlanders in assists 19 times during her career.
  • In her first game back after missing last season with a knee injury, Claudia Quevedo finished with nine points, contributing two 3-pointers.
  • George Mason forced 19 turnovers, while Radford created 15 miscues.
  • The Highlanders edged the Patriots 24-22 on points off turnovers.
  • Radford received 31 points from its bench.
  • Kara Wright led George Mason with a career-high 25 points on 9 of 12 shooting.
  • Rounding out the three Patriots in double-figures; Chinyere Bell finished with 18 points and Tiffany Padgett contributed 10 points.
QUOTABLE
  • "I think we had typical first game jitters and nerves, which got us into a pretty hole to start the game. There are things that we need to clean up. Our defensive energy was up-and-down and we fouled too much. We knew that rebounding and free throws were going to be a major factor in the game. George Mason three returning starters stepped up, they scored 53 of their 70 points. We have to get better at understanding our game plan and what we want to do. There are a lot of great lessons we can take away as we begin to prepare for Davidson." ~ Radford head coach Mike McGuire
UP NEXT
  • Radford receives a week off, before traveling to Davidson on Nov. 19.
  • Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. from the John M. Belk Arena
  • The all-time series is tied 3-3.
  • Radford won last year's Education Day special, 79-68.
  • Radford has played two Atlantic 10 foes in back-to-back seasons.

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