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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
WBB-Semifinal-20170311
Todd Drexler | Big South Conference
50
Charleston So. CSU 18-13
53
Winner Radford RAD 24-7
Charleston So. CSU
18-13
50
Final
53
Radford RAD
24-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Charleston So. CSU 8 18 11 13 50
Radford RAD 12 16 10 15 53

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

CARDIAC KIDS ADVANCE TO FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN NINE YEARS

 GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: No. 1 Radford 53, No. 5 Charleston Southern 50
  • Records: Highlanders (24-7) | Buccaneers (18-13)
  • Round: Big South Tournament Semifinals
  • Location: Vines Center | Lynchburg, Va.
 
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Playing in its fourth game decided by three points or less in the last five games, Radford held on for a 53-50 semifinal win over fifth seeded Charleston Southern to punch its ticket into the Big South Tournament Championship game for the first time since 2008 and the 13th in program history.
 
The road to the championship game has been a winding one of late as the Highlanders hold a 4-1 record in those game, playing in overtime twice during the five-game span. Radford is 7-1 in games decided by three points or less on the season.
 
In Radford's second straight tournament game, its defense shined at the end when it mattered most.
 
The Highlanders entered the fourth quarter with a one-point lead (38-37) after a three-point play from Elyse Kiploks. Radford scored the first five points of the quarter as Claudia Quevedo took a nice pass from Janayla White on a baseline cut, getting the layup fall after drawling contact. Quevedo's free throw pushed the lead to 43-37 three minutes into the final quarter.
 
Charleston Southern went on a 10-3 run as back-to-back 3-pointers by Alyssa Mann and Breannah Bretches handed the Buccaneers their first lead since the 9:19 mark in the opening quarter. Bretches three-point field goal from the corner pocket forced a Radford timeout as the Highlanders trailed 47-46 with 3:47 remaining.
 
The Highlanders used two consecutive layups by White in a 48-second span to put the Highlanders back on top 50-49 with 2:15 to play.
 
On Charleston Southern's next possession, White blocked a Ke'Asia Jackson layup attempt and Radford's defense put a hand in the faces of Mann and Jackson as the Buccaneers missed three straight three-point attempts off two offensive rebounds.
 
Radford turned the ball over on its next possession as the Highlanders looked to burn the clock, but the Buccaneers forced a jump ball with 44.8 seconds remaining.
 
Following a Charleston Southern timeout to advance the ball past the time line, Kiplocks was called for an offensive foul, giving the ball back to Radford.
 
The Buccaneers had two fouls to give before putting Radford in the bonus. Radford put the ball in its best free throw shooters' hands as Khiana Johnson entered the game with a 78.5 free throw percentage. The freshman calmly sank both attempts, finishing the day 4 for 4 from the charity stripe.
 
Mann added a free throw with 11.5 seconds remaining as White blocked the layup attempt, but caught Mann with her body. The Buccaneers fouled White on the ensuing position, before Radford could inbound the ball. White made the second free throw attempt to push the advantage to 53-50.
 
Already with two 3-pointers in the game, Charleston Southern put the ball in Rachel Burns hands as the Buccaneers looked to force overtime. Burns let a prayer go from the left wing, but the outstretched hand of Jayda Worthy blocked the attempt, sending Radford to its first tournament championship game in nine years.
 
Radford will look to become the second school in Big South history to win double-digit tournament championships as the Highlanders go for No. 10 on Sunday.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • With the win, Radford will make its first championship game appearance under fourth-year head coach Mike McGuire.
  • Radford improve to 11-1 at the No. 1 seed in the tournament, while improving to 13-7 in the semifinals.
  • The Highlanders improve to 27-9 as the higher seed in the tournament, while improving to 4-2 in tournament games played inside the Vines Center.
  • Radford and Charleston Southern have met eight times in the tournament with the Highlanders holding a 6-2 edge.
  • With the win, the No. 1 seed has advanced to the title game in 10 consecutive seasons.
  • The Highlanders just missed having three players with double-doubles for the first time on the season.
  • The Highlanders did place four in double-figures for the 10th time on the season.
  • Janayla White led all players with 16 points and 12 rebounds, her second straight double and seventh on the season.
  • White has grabbed 51 rebounds in the last four games, while scoring 57 points.
  • Destinee Walker followed with 13 points and 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double on the season.
  • Walker collected five of Radford's eight steals, a season high and matching a career best.
  • Making 5 of 6 free throws, Jayda Worthy finished with 10 points and four rebounds shy for a double-double.
  • Khiana Johnson contributed 10 points off the bench, making 4 of 4 from the free throw line.
  • As a team, Radford made 13 of 22 free throw attempts.
  • Claudia Quevedo finished with a game-high four assists.
  • Radford finished with a 42.2 field goal percentage, improving to 18-2 when shooting over 40 percent.
  • Charleston Southern outrebounded Radford 37-36, marking only the 11th time the Highlanders have been beat on the boards.
  • The Buccaneers scored 13 points off 16 offensive rebounds.
  • Radford dominated the paint 32-10, while scoring 16 points off 12 turnovers.
 
QUOTABLE
  • "Our team will fight and our team will compete. I think the tough thing right now is that we are learning to play in these different types of situations and settings. Outside of a couple, we are very green. What this team has accomplished in the regular season and now is just a testament to their fight. I would say the one regular season game we learned the most from to help was the loss at Liberty. We were down big and came back to lose by one. That game taught us how to fight more and dig deep." ~ Radford head coach Mike McGuire
 
UP NEXT
Radford will await its opponent in Sunday's championship game at 4 p.m. against the victor between No. 6 Presbyterian and No. 7 UNC Asheville. The championship game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
 
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