ORANGBURG, S.C.—The Highlanders pulled off a grind-it-out game against South Carolina State on Tuesday night, 60-45. A back-to-back scoring outburst, career highs, and double doubles were the highlights for Jen Falconer, Khiana Johnson, Sydney Nunley, and Amele Ngwafang.  
 
The Highlanders got out to a slower start than usual in Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center, falling behind in the early goings of the first quarter. Johnson broke the scoring drought with a jumper from inside the paint. After that basket, Radford had taken the lid off and scoring moments later was Aiden Rainford from nearly the same spot on the floor. The Highlanders had cut the Bulldog lead to just one. South Carolina State maintained a one-point lead heading into the following quarter after Johnson's sweet jumper found its way with seven seconds remaining. 
 
Radford opened up the second quarter with a statement stanza. Makaila Wilson's big-time rejection and defensive rebound setup Rainford with a layup to give the Highlanders their first lead of the game. Radford wouldn't waver after that basket. With the offense now opened up, six different Highlanders would post points heading into halftime with a six-point lead over the Bulldogs. 
 
After a quiet first half, Nunley exploded to the basket and laid it in beautifully and about 20 seconds later Rainford saw her jumper good off an assist from Nunley in the paint. Radford was now clicking on both ends of the floor, while getting to the free throw line at a more consistent rate. The increased defense was rewarded with several Highlanders notching points off of fast break opportunities. The lead now favored Radford by 20 points. 
 
In the fourth, South Carolina State upped their defensive presence and began to set the full court trap. Both teams would go a two-minute stretch without a basket before the Bulldogs went two-for-two at the charity stripe. Amele took over for Radford down the stretch scoring 11 of the 16 points for the Highlanders in the quarter. 
 
PACING THE HIGHLANDERS 
For the second consecutive game, Johnson has shown her ability to not only score but to do it efficiently. On the night she tallied 15 points, one assist, one steal, three rebounds, 50 percent shooting from the free throw line, and 33 percent from the floor. This is the second consecutive game that she has posted double digit points. 
 
STAT OF THE GAME 
Senior leader and floor general, Falconer scrapped her way through tonight's game with a newfound tenacity. She pulled down a career high eight rebounds while adding a steal, three points, and 50 percent shooting from the charity stripe. 
 
DOUBLE-DOUBLE TROUBLE
Amele Ngwafang has been on a terror to begin this season, scoring a career high 15 points and pulling down a career high 14 rebounds in the contest. She would mark the first ever double-double of her career. Alongside her battling in the post was the noted double-double machine, Nunley. She would finish the game with 12 points and 11 rebounds through her 27 minutes while adding a block and a pair of assists. 
 
UP NEXT 
Radford is winding down the four-game road stretch, with their third away contest on Sunday, November 17th. The Highlanders will play a neutral site game against the Mountaineers of West Virginia at 2:00 p.m. in Beckley, West Virginia.  
 
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