RADFORD HEADS TO WINTHROP LOOKING TO KEEP PACE IN BIG SOUTH RACE

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RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's basketball team, currently fifth in the Big South standings, travels to Winthrop for Tuesday's 7 p.m. conference game inside Winthrop Coliseum.

RU will be aiming for its first win in Rock Hill, S.C. since Jan. 12, 2009. Radford has played Winthrop more than any other Big South team in program history. Tuesday marks the 72^nd all-time meeting.

SETTING THE STAGE
- Series: Radford leads, 55-16
- Location: Winthrop Coliseum (Rock Hill, S.C.)
- Time: 7 p.m.
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LAST MEETING
Led by Janayla White's double-double (18 points, 15 rebounds), Radford rolled to a 66-44 win over Winthrop on Jan. 9 inside the Dedmon Center. RU owned the boards, establishing a 60-34 rebounding advantage.

Gaby Gilmore and Rachael Ross joined White in double-figure scoring with 18 and 12, respectively.

Erica Williams scored nearly half of the Eagles' points, dropping in 20 on 8 of 18 shooting.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS
Radford (14-12, 10-7 Big South) broke 80 points for the first time since Dec. 12 in its 80-64 win over Longwood on Senior Day. The Highlanders' win on Saturday kept them a half-game ahead of High Point for the last first-round bye in the Big South tournament in just over two weeks.

Bench scoring was at a premium Saturday. RU received a season-high 30 points from its reserves, topping the previous best of 29 vs. Concord. Three Highlanders scored at least eight points off the bench, led by Ross' nine.

With three games remaining in its regular season, Radford knows how important each win is to improving its tournament seeding. Only 2.5 games separate Presbyterian (third place) and High Point (sixth place). The Blue Hose visits RU next Tuesday. With that in consideration, Tuesday's road game at Winthrop could bolster the Highlanders' momentum heading into their bye weekend.

Janayla White and Jayda Worthy, who both delivered 17 points in the win over Longwood, rank first and second, respectively, among Big South players in field-goal percentage. White knocks down 57.9 percent of her shots, while Worthy connects on 52.6 percent.

White is now the leading scorer (11.7) and rebounder (9.8) for Radford after Aisha Foy suffered a season-ending ACL tear. Worthy ranks second on the team in scoring at 9.9 per game.

In addition to White, Lydia Rivers also averages at least eight rebounds per game. The post tandem rank first and fourth, respectively, among Big South players in rebounding. Radford is the only team to have two of its players in the top four of the league.

Behind two blocks Saturday, White became the sixth Radford women's basketball player to record 100 career blocks. She is 43 rebounds from becoming the 19^th member of the 500-rebound club. White would be one of just five players in program history to have 100 career blocks and 500 career rebounds.

Radford continues to lead the conference in field-goal percentage defense. Opponents only connect on 34.3 percent of their shots when playing the Highlanders.

SCOUTING WINTHROP
Perhaps no other team in the Big South can relate to the injuries Radford has endured than Winthrop. Unfortunately for the Eagles (4-21, 3-13 Big South), who were predicted to finish second in the preseason poll, their record reflects a season ravaged by injuries.

After beginning the season without All-Big South post player Schaquilla Nunn, Winthrop has lost All-Big South guard Erica Williams among other keys contributors to injuries. Nunn and Williams combined to average over 30 points per game last season for the Eagles.

Aliyah Kilpatrick, who missed the first game against Radford due to a death in the family, has been doing all she can to steer Winthrop in the right direction. The redshirt junior averages 13.8 points per game, which rank fourth in the Big South. She erupted for a game-high 24 points in last season's meeting in Rock Hill.

In the paint, Arianne Whitaker provides the Eagles a formidable presence at 6-foot-3. The freshman, which also missed the first game against Radford this season, averages 7.8 points and a team-leading 8.8 rebounds per game.

All four of Winthrop's wins have come inside Winthrop Coliseum. The Eagles' last win came against surging Coastal Carolina on Feb. 13. That win against the Chanticleers carries more weight after the 2-0 record they posted last week, which included a 58-51 win at Liberty.

Winthrop ranks last in the Big South in scoring offense (54.6) and ninth in scoring defense (67.1). The Eagles are second in blocks per game (4.9), right behind Radford.

UP NEXT
Radford goes into its bye weekend before the team returns to the court Tuesday, March 1 against Presbyterian. The game, which will be broadcast on ESPN3, has huge tournament seeding implications for both teams. RU earned a hard-fought 64-53 win at Presbyterian on Jan. 4.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#13 Rachael Ross: C; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#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

#13 Rachael Ross
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: C

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

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

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