RADFORD TRAVELS TO UNC ASHEVILLE FOR SATURDAY BIG SOUTH BATTLE

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SETTING THE STAGE

Before the season began on Nov. 11, Radford was predicted to finish second behind UNC Asheville in the Big South standings. The two foes meet for the first time in conference play on Saturday after watching their seasons go in opposite directions. The Highlanders enter the contest with a 14-4 record and 6-1 clip in Big South play. The Bulldogs stand at 10-8 and 4-3 in league play.
Series: Radford, 48-21
The Bulldogs swept last year's two regular season matchups to end Radford's two-game winning streak in the series.
The Highlanders last win in Asheville, N.C. came in a 67-65 decision on Jan. 20, 2015.
Radford is 20-12 against UNC Asheville on the road.
Radford has won four out the last five matchups in Asheville, N.C.
Last meeting: UNC Asheville 58, Radford 48 (Feb. 16, 2016)
Game time: 2:30 p.m.
Kimmel Arena | Asheville, N.C.
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HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 14-4, 6-1 Big South
Last Time Out: It was a night of endings streaks as Radford snapped its 12-game skid to Liberty on Tuesday night with a 76-68 win, giving the Highlanders their first win over the Blue Ridge Mountain foe since 2011. The win also marked the first-time Radford has defeated Liberty inside the Dedmon Center since March 3, 2007.
Radford stayed atop the Big South standings with the help of a hot shooting performance from behind the arc. The Highlanders finished the contest 8 for 10 from three-point land, missing a season high by one. The 80.0 three-point field goal percentage is a season high by 30 percent.
Destinee Walker paced the Highlanders' three-point shooting with a 4 for 4 performance from behind the arc. The four made 3-pointers match a season high for the sophomore. Walker finished with a game-high 16 points on a 5 for 9 shooting performance to lead four Highlanders in double-figures.
Walker ranks third in the Big South with 13.8 points per game and ninth with 12.7 in league play. Connecting on 90 of 185 attempts, Walker's 48.6 field goal percentage is third best in the Big South. The perfect 4 for 4 from behind the arc improved her 3-point field goal percentage to 44.2 percent.
The sophomore has dished out 43 assists in 18 games for 2.4 per contest, ranking 12^th in the league.
Rounding out the top performers against Liberty; Khiana Johnson tallied eight of her 14 points in the second half and Janayla White made 10 free throws to finish with 12 points. Jayda Worthy rounded out the Highlanders in double-figures with 11 points, just missing a double-double with nine rebounds.
Radford has placed four in double-figures five times on the season, including three in Big South play.
Worthy continues her tear in Big South play, averaging 15.0 ppg in seven league contests. She's has been held to single-digits in only one league contest.
With a 58.9 field goal percentage in Big South play, Worthy ranks second. In the 18 games on the season, Worthy boasts a 56.9 shooting percentage, which is one percent behind Liberty's Keyen Green for the league's best.
In the win over Liberty, Radford made 24 of 56 attempts from the field for a 42.9 field goal percentage, marking the 11th time on the season the Highlanders have shot over 40-percent.
From behind the arc, Radford went 8 for 10, marking the most 3-pointers made since a 9 for 25 performance against Longwood on Jan. 14, 2015.
Radford has made six-plus 3-pointers nine times on the season.
Radford has dominated the glass this season, outrebounding opponents 732-609. The Highlanders are averaging 40.7 rebounds per game which ranks 40^th in the country. Holding a +6.8 rebound margin, Radford is 30^th in the country.
Individually, Radford sports three of the top five rebounders in the Big South. White is second with 8.1 per game, Worthy and Walker are tied for fourth with 6.9 per game.
In Big South play, Worthy stands in third with 8.6, while White follows in fourth with 7.7 per game.
Walker leads the league in defensive rebounds per game with 5.4 and Worthy is third on the offensive glass with 3.4 per contest.
For only the second time on the season a Radford opponent shot over 40-percent as Liberty finished with a 45.9 shooting percentage on Tuesday night. The Highlanders hold a 34.4 field goal percentage defense, ranking 11^th in the country.

SCOUTING UNC Asheville

Record: 10-8, 4-3 Big South
The Bulldogs are Radford's first opponent with a winning record since Campbell on Jan. 10.
UNC Asheville is 1-2 in Big South home games, while holding a 5-2 record inside the Kimmel Arena this season. The two losses are to Campbell and High Point.
UNC Asheville and Radford have played five common non-conference opponents: Virginia Tech, UNC Greensboro, Western Carolina, Tennessee Tech and Appalachian State. The Highlanders went 4-1 against the opponents, losing only to Virginia Tech. UNC Asheville dropped contests to Virginia Tech and Appalachian State.
Possessing the best scoring offense in the Big South, UNC Asheville has tallied 1,187 points in 18 games for 65.9 per game. In Big South games, the Bulldogs are averaging 63.0 in seven games.
UNC Asheville holds a Big South best 41.4 field goal percentage, making 433 of 1,045 shots.
The Bulldogs create most of their shots off the dribble as they only average 10.7 assists per game.
Ranking 10^th in the Big South, UNC Asheville has only collected 102 steals for 5.7 per game. However, UNC Asheville does not turn the ball over much, ranking 28^th nationally in with 251 turnovers. They only turn the ball over 13.9 times per game.
Chatori Major paces the Bulldogs with 12.2 points per game. The Big South's Preseason Player of the Year is a deadly threat from behind the arc, making 32 of 83 attempts.
Holding a 55.8 field goal percentage, KJ Weaver is nearly averaging a double-double with 8.8 ppg and 7.8 rpg. She is averaging 1.6 blocks per game, while corralling 63 offensive rebounds.

UP NEXT

Radford continues road action on Jan. 31, closing out the month against Presbyterian. Action is slated for a 7 p.m. start in Clinton, S.C.
The Highlanders hold a 16-4 edge over the Blue Hose, including a 7-2 record on the road.
Radford has swept the last four regular season matchups. Presbyterian swept the season series in 2014.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Destinee Walker: G/F; 5' 11"; Sophomore

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

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

#4 Khiana Johnson: G; 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#10 Destinee Walker
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: G/F

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

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

#4 Khiana Johnson
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: G