Women's Basketball 3/9/2017 9:00:00 PM

RADFORD BEGINS QUEST FOR BIG SOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP FRIDAY

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Radford begins its quest for the program's 10th conference tournament championship Friday when the top seeded Highlanders meet No. 8 seed Gardner-Webb in the quarterfinals of the 2017 Big South Women's Basketball Championship hosted by Liberty. Tipoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. from Vines Center in Lynchburg, Va.

SETTING THE STAGE
- Gardner-Webb Series: Radford leads, 13-9.
- The Runnin' Bulldogs hold a 2-0 edge in neutral site contests in the all-time series.
- Location: Vines Center (Lynchburg, Va.)
- Time: 12 p.m.
- Live Stats
- ESPN3
- Live Audio
- Game Notes
- Game Day Central
- Tickets

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Radford saw its regular season end in a 74-64 overtime loss at the hands of High Point on March 4 as the Highlanders were outscored 15-5 in the overtime period.
The Highlanders were aiming to win double-digit home and road contests for the first time in program history, before dropping the overtime contest.
Radford are 7-3 in its last 10 games with all three losses coming on the road.
The Highlanders shot 42.4 percent from the floor, finishing the regular season with a 17-2 record when shooting over 40 percent.
Despite the loss, Radford clinched its first outright regular season championship since 1991-92 with Campbell's 57-47 loss at Liberty.
Defense has been the staple of the Highlanders' success. Entering the conference tournament, Radford ranks 11^th nationally in scoring defense (54.6), 12^th in field goal percentage defense (35.1) and 23^rd in fewest fouls (434).
Finishing as the Big South's leader in field goal percentage and defense, the Highlanders posted a .422 clip in 29 games, while shooting .432 in league games.
The Highlanders rank third in the Big South with 39.0 rebounds per game, holding opponents to 33.5 per game.
Radford ranks 48^th in the country with a +5.4 rebound margin.
Individually, Janayla White finished third in the league with 7.8 rpg and Jayda Worthy follows in fourth with 7.3 per game.
Radford is the only team in the Big South to have two players rank inside the top five and three inside the top ten. Destinee Walker comes in at 10^th with 6.2 rpg.

POSTSEASON HONOREES

Destinee Walker and Jayda Worthy were selected to the All-Big South first team when the conference's postseason awards were revealed Tuesday afternoon.
It marked the second consecutive season that Radford had placed two on the first team and seventh time in program history.
The honor was the first of Walker's career, while Worthy was named to the all-freshman team in 2014-15.
Walker finished third in the Big South Player of the Year voting (two first-place votes and 102 points). Worthy finished fourth in the voting.
Worthy finished just behind Campbell's MaKala Rouse for Big South Defensive Player of the Year honors. Rouse received 18 points on five first-place votes, while Worthy collected 14 points on two first-place votes.
Janayla White earned her third straight Big South postseason honor, being named to the honorable mention squad.
Radford was represented on the all-freshman team for the third straight season as Khiana Johnson headlined the squad, marking only the third time in program history that the Highlanders have collected three consecutive all-freshman team honorees.
Johnson finished second in Big South Freshman of the Year voting, grabbing 28 points and two first-place votes.
Mike McGuire finished second in the voting for Big South Coach of the Year for the second straight season.
McGuire finished behind Campbell's Ronny Fisher. Fisher had 24 points on eight first-place votes, while McGuire collected 19 points and one first-place vote.

TOURNEY TIME

Radford is seeking to advance to the semifinals for the third time in five seasons. Radford is 14-10 all-time in quarterfinal games.
The Highlanders have not advanced past the semifinal round since appearing in the title game in 2008 against Liberty. The Flames wont the matchup 66-65.
This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Highlanders' last Big South tournament title (1996). They have reached the championship game twice since then (2007 and 2008).
The Vines Center has not held every Big South Tournament game since hosting in 1998. Liberty hosted the whole tournament in 1997 and 1998.
Radford holds a 2-2 record in tournament games played inside the Vines Center.
In regular season games played inside the Vines Center, Radford holds a 6-21 record.
The Highlanders last win inside the Vines Center came on Jan. 17, 2011.

TOURNAMENT RESUME

As the No. 1 seed: 9-1
Record in quarterfinals: 14-10
Record in semifinals: 12-7
Record in championship game: 9-3
Record in tournament opener: 19-11
Record as higher seed: 25-9
Record as lower seed: 11-12
Record in Lynchburg: 2-2
Championships won (last): 9 (1996)
Championships won in Lynchburg: 0

ROLLING, ROLLING ON THE RIVER

With a 22-7 record, the 2016-17 squad ranks fourth all-time for most season wins in program history.
Radford needs only three wins to match the program's record for most wins in a season.
The last Radford team to win 20-plus games in a season was the 2007-08 squad with 23 wins.
In the last three seasons under head coach Mike McGuire, Radford has posted win totals of 17, 18, and 22.
Radford's program record for wins in a season is 25, set during the 1988-89 season. The Highlanders went 25-7 that season.

SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB

No. 8 Gardner-Webb dominated No. 9 Winthrop 82-43 in the Big South Tournament First Round matchup.
The Runnin' Bulldogs shot 46.3 percent from the field, including a 47.1 clip in the second half, finishing 31 for 67 from the field.
Gardner-Webb made 10 of 25 from behind the arc as seven different players made a 3-pointer.
Morgan Pointer led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 16 points off the bench on a 6 of 7 shooting performance, including two made three-point field goals.
Carley Plentovich and Alexus Hill finished with 12 points each.
The Runnin' Bulldogs racked up 22 assists as Savannah Plentovich dished out a team-high six assists.
Big South Honorable Mention honoree Tierra Huntsman put together a stat line of nine points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals.
Gardner-Webb forced 23 turnovers, turning the Winthrop miscues into 30 points.

UP NEXT
The winner of Friday's first quarterfinal matchup will advance to Saturday's semifinals where it will await the winner between No. 4 seed Liberty and No. 5 seed Charleston Southern. Tipoff of the second semifinal is slated for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3.

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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