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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Worthy-20160312-1
Big South Sports Photos
41
Radford RAD 18-13
51
Winner Liberty LIBERTY 20-11
Radford RAD
18-13
41
Final
51
Liberty LIBERTY
20-11
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Radford RAD 5 6 17 13 41
Liberty LIBERTY 13 15 9 14 51

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

RADFORD GOES DOWN WITH A FIGHT IN 51-41 SEMIFINAL SETBACK TO LIBERTY



GAME INFORMATION
-  Score: Liberty 51, Radford 41
-  Records: Radford (18-13) | Liberty (20-11)
-  Location: Kimmel Arena (Asheville, N.C.)
 
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Radford cut a 17-point deficit to six late in the third quarter, however, the Highlanders were unable to complete the comeback in falling to No. 2 seed Liberty, 51-41, Saturday evening in the semifinals of the 2016 Big South Women's Basketball Championship inside Kimmel Arena.
 
After being held to a season-low 11 points in the first half and seeing Liberty increase its lead to as many as 17, the third-seeded Highlanders stormed back behind a 15-4 run to close the gap to six following Sydney Nunley's and-one with six seconds to go in the third quarter.
 
With momentum on its side, Radford looked poised to head to the fourth quarter on a high note. However, the Lady Flames' Jaymee Fisher-Davis collected a pass from Sadalia Ellis and swished home a 3-pointer from the right wing as time expired to put Liberty ahead by nine (37-28) heading into the final stanza.
 
RU could get no closer than seven over the remaining 10 minutes of the game, ending the Highlanders' incredible season with the most wins (18) since the 2007-08 campaign.
 
"The growth we have made in three years is something that really excites me," head coach Mike McGuire reflected. "I love the players in our program right now. I think they are learning how to compete. The big thing they learned this year was how to carry themselves through adversity. For this team to win 18 games has me really excited about where we are and where we are headed. We still have work to do, but I am very proud of who we are and who we are trying to become."
 
For the second straight game, Jayda Worthy led Radford in scoring with 10 points. She added seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Lydia Rivers (11) and Janayla White (10) pulled down double-digit rebounds, while Destinee Walker racked up a season-high five steals.
 
Radford outshot the Lady Flames, 29.6 percent to 27.3 percent, and outscored them, 28-18, in the paint. After being outrebounded 30-14 in the first half, the Highlanders closed the rebounding margin to 44-39 after a strong defensive effort in the final two frames.
 
Liberty's strong start was a result of the Lady Flames cleaning up the offensive glass. Sixteen of their 30 rebounds in the first half were on the offensive end. They were able to visit the free-throw line 15 more times than the Highlanders, gaining an additional nine points from the charity stripe.
 
Fisher-Davis, who knocked down 3 of 6 from beyond the arc, led all scorers with 11 points off the bench for Liberty. Ellis and Catherine Kearney contributed 10 points apiece.
 
The future is bright for Radford as 11 Highlanders are set to return for the 2016-17 campaign, which will be McGuire's fourth season as head coach of the program.
 
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