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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
WBB-Group-20180309
Todd Drexler
51
Gardner-Webb GWU (19-13)
53
Winner Radford RAD (23-7)
Gardner-Webb GWU
(19-13)
51
Final
53
Radford RAD
(23-7)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Gardner-Webb GWU 13 14 12 12 51
Radford RAD 13 9 17 14 53

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

RADFORD SURVIVES FOR 53-51 QUARTERFINAL WIN OVER GWU



GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: Radford 53, Gardner-Webb 51
  • Records: Highlanders (23-7) | Runnin' Bulldogs (19-13)
  • Round: Big South Quarterfinals
  • Location: Vines Center | Lynchburg, Va.
 
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Radford's second straight quarterfinal meeting with Gardner-Webb had a Twilight Zone effect as the Highlanders squeaked out a 53-51 victory over the Runnin' Bulldogs Friday night, advancing to the semifinals for the third consecutive year.
 
A season ago, Radford held off Gardner-Webb 54-51 on March 10, 2017 in the quarterfinals as the Highlander defense shined in the closing moments of the win. This time around, the ending was eerily similar, except Radford needed to battle back for the victory.  
 
The game saw 12 lead changes and 12 ties, which totaled 11:39 of the 40-minute battle. In the fourth quarter alone, there were four ties as the Highlanders knotted the game each time.
 
Radford's defense held Gardner-Webb without a field goal for the final 4:13 of regulation as Alexus Hill's layup handed the Runnin' Bulldogs a 50-48 advantage. The Highlanders quickly knotted the game off a nifty move and layup from Claudia Quevedo 20 seconds later. Quevedo added five of her team-high 12 points in the final frame.
 
With 1:42 remaining in regulation, Tierra Huntsman was fouled on a drive to the basket as she went to the free throw line with a chance to put Gardner-Webb up. Huntsman made only one free throw and Radford's defense forced a Gardner-Webb hurried attempt off the offensive rebound with the shot clock winding down.
 
The Highlanders raced across the half court line, calling a timeout. Dominating the paint all night, Radford head coach Mike McGuire sketched a play on his whiteboard for the conference's defensive player of the year.
 
A rough night offensively for Jayda Worthy, she compiled with the play and got the ball at the top of the key off the inbounds pass. Worthy drove on the right side, letting go of a high arcing floater off the top of the glass as the kiss fell in to put Radford ahead 52-51.
 
Stymieing the Runnin' Bulldog offense down the stretch, Radford's defense forced an awkward layup attempt by Hill as Destinee Walker pulled down the rebound. With a free throw game in front of them, Quevedo was fouled with 19.0 seconds left on the clock, making the backend of the two free throws for a 53-51 lead.
 
Following a timeout, Gardner-Webb's point guard Ky'Asia Stanford received two opportunities in the final seconds, however Radford towered in the paint. The Highlanders came out of an array of diving bodies with the loose ball rebound, dribbling out the clock to survive and advance.

The second half comeback came after Radford trailed 27-22 at the break and shooting 21.4 percent in the first 20 minutes. Radford's veteran group appeared unfazed, opening the third quarter with a 9-3 swing. The Highlanders made 7 of 10 attempts in the quarter, outscoring the Runnin' Bulldogs 17-12 in the quarter.  
 
Radford's defense held Gardner-Webb scoreless for a span of 5:16 after watching the deficit grow to six points. Held to only four points in the first 20 minutes, Destinee Walker knocked down back-to-back jumpers in the final 45 seconds to knot the game at 39 after three quarters.
 
Walker finished with 12 points on 6 of 10 shooting, adding four more points in the fourth quarter.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
  • The Highlanders improve to 15-6 all-time as the No. 2 seed.
  • Radford improves to 16-10 in quarterfinal play and 22-11 in its opening tournament game.
  • With the win, Mike McGuire improves to 4-4 in the Big South Tournament.
  • Radford is now 6-6 on the season when trailing at halftime.
  • Radford is 32-4 in the last 62 games when holding opposing teams under 60 points, including a 20-1 mark on the season.
  • For the first time in seven games a Radford opponent scored over 50 points. The last time an opponent crossed the 50-point plateau came on Feb. 10 as Charleston Southern scored 57 points.
  • Holding Gardner-Webb to a 37.0 field goal percentage, Radford's defense has held 14 out of its last 15 opponents under 40-percent shooting.
  • The Highlanders finished with a 37.3 field goal percentage, shooting 56.6 percent in the second half, making 13 of 23 attempts.
  • The three-point victory was the first win under 20 points since Radford defeated Liberty 52-45 on Feb. 13, which was also the last time the Highlanders were held under 40-percent shooting.
  • With 12 points each, Destinee Walker and Claudia Quevedo lead the Highlanders in points for the seventh team on the season.
  • Jayda Worthy pulled down nine second half rebounds to finish with 13 boards, her fourth double-digit rebounding game on the season.
  • The Highlanders outrebounded Gardner-Webb, 38-28.
  • With 12 offensive rebounds, Radford finished with eight second-chance points.
  • Radford made 13 of 18 free throws, including 9 for 10 in the first half.
  • Janayla White finished with eight points, making 6 of 10 from the free throw line.
  • Khiana Johnson chipped in with nine points off the bench as Radford's bench outscored Gardner-Webb 13-1.
  • The Runnin' Bulldogs turned 12 Radford turnovers into 15 points.
 
QUOTABLE
  • "It's eerie in how similar these last two quarterfinal games were. I think in a lot ways, we expected a game like this. It has always been a back-and-forth matchup between the two teams. I thought our kids found a way to win. It wasn't a pretty game, but I thought it was a very competitive game. Everything was hard for both teams and that's how it's going to be the rest of the way." ~ Radford head coach Mike McGuire
 
UP NEXT
  • Radford will await its opponent in the semifinals as the Highlanders will take on either No. 3 UNC Asheville or No. 6 Campbell on Saturday.
  • Tipoff of the second semifinal matchup is slated for 4 p.m., start and will be broadcast on ESPN3.
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