Women's Basketball 2/15/2016 9:00:00 AM

HIGHLANDERS HEAD TO FIRST-PLACE UNC ASHEVILLE

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RADFORD, Va. – Radford rolls into Asheville, N.C., for Tuesday night's Big South women's basketball tilt between the Highlanders and UNC Asheville inside Kimmel Arena. Both teams have combined to win their last nine contests. The Bulldogs, who took over sole possession of first place in the conference standings Saturday, are seeking their eighth straight win.

SETTING THE STAGE
- Series: Radford leads, 48-20
- Location: Kimmel Arena (Asheville, N.C.)
- Time: 7 p.m.
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LAST MEETING
Radford led for nearly 30 minutes, before a late second-half surge by UNC Asheville handed the Highlanders a 54-46 setback inside the Dedmon Center on Jan. 30.

The Bulldogs trailed by as many as 11, but outscored RU, 31-9, over the final 13 minutes of the second half.

Janayla White filled the stat sheet with 12 points, 17 rebounds, five blocks and four steals. It was her fifth straight double-double. Aisha Foy (10 points) and Gaby Gilmore (nine rebounds) also made significant contributions in the loss.

Tianna Knuckles, Chatori Major and Khaila Webb each chipped in 13 points to pace Asheville.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS
Radford (13-11, 9-6 Big South) aims to keep its momentum as it attempts to do what only one other team has done this season—defeat the Bulldogs on their home floor. Gardner-Webb knocked off UNCA, 58-56, on Jan. 16 for its only home loss on the season.

The Highlanders chalked up a pair of come-from-behind wins last week to tighten its grip on fifth place in the Big South standings. RU was down by 11 vs. Gardner-Webb and 15 at Charleston Southern before storming back. Radford's resurgence was made possible by outscoring its opponents by a combined 25 points in the fourth quarter (counting both games).

With its ninth league triumph, the Highlanders are just one win away from reaching double-digit Big South wins for the second straight season and 14^th time overall.

Foy leads the Highlanders in the scoring column, averaging 12.7 points per game, which rank ninth among Big South players. The Virginia Beach, Va., native ranks fifth in the conference with her 35.7 percent accuracy from 3-point range. She ranks fifth all-time in program history for 3-pointers made in a career (129).

White joins Foy in double-figure scoring at 11.5 points per game. Behind her 10.2 rebounding average, which leads the league, White is the only Big South women's basketball player to average a double-double. She is on pace to post a top-five single-season mark in rebounding by the end of the 2015-16 campaign.

White is tied for second in the conference in blocks per game (2.0). She ranks fifth all-time in career blocks in program history with 97. White also leads the Big South in field-goal percentage (.588).

SCOUTING UNC ASHEVILLE
Coming off a 56-51 home win over Liberty in a battle of first place in the Big South, UNC Asheville (20-4, 13-2 Big South) has its sights set on the regular-season championship in head coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick's fourth year at the helm.

The Bulldogs have reversed the trend from a year ago where they fell short in many close decisions. Of last season's 22 losses, 10 of those came by single digits, including six by three points or less.

This season, Asheville has won 12 games by single digits, including all seven during their winning streak. Meanwhile, two of the Bulldogs' four losses have been by single digits.

If any team is going to upset Asheville, they will have to do it as the away team. Beginning with last Saturday's game vs. Liberty, the Bulldogs are at home for five of their final six games. In addition, Asheville will host the conference tournament inside Kimmel Arena, March 10-13.

A large factor behind Asheville's success is its offense, which averages a conference-best 70 points per game. Eight Bulldogs average at least five points per game, led by the duo of Tianna Knuckles (13.3 ppg) and Chatori Major (13.1 ppg). Major averages 15.4 points per game in conference-only contests.

Three-point shooting is a strength of the Bulldogs. They rank just ahead of Radford for first place with their 32.9 percent efficiency from downtown.

UP NEXT
Radford returns home for Senior Day on Saturday against Longwood. The Highlanders are set to honor their two seniors, Aisha Foy and Gaby Gilmore, prior to tipoff.

Saturday will be a Big South doubleheader inside the Dedmon Center. The women's game begins at 2 p.m., while the men's game, featuring Radford and High Point, will commence at 4:30 p.m.

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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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

#3 Aisha Foy

#14 Gaby Gilmore

#21 Janayla White

Players Mentioned

#3 Aisha Foy

#14 Gaby Gilmore

#21 Janayla White