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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Amele_Vandy_11819
46
Radford Rad 0-1,0-0 Big South
80
Winner Vanderbilt Vandy 2-0,0-0 SEC
Radford Rad
0-1,0-0 Big South
46
Final
80
Vanderbilt Vandy
2-0,0-0 SEC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Radford Rad 11 11 12 12 46
Vanderbilt Vandy 16 18 22 24 80

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

CAREER HIGH NIGHT FROM AMELE NGWAFANG AS HIGHLANDERS BATTLE COMMODORES

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—The Radford (0-1) women's basketball team played a cat-and-mouse season opener against Vanderbilt (2-0) in the Historic Memorial Gymnasium to commence the 2019-20 campaign, falling 80-46. 
 
This contest saw two ties and several lead changes down the stretch. Radford's bench produced 19 points, only one-point shy of the opposition's reserves. The paint was a prime scoring spot for the Highlanders who knocked down 22 of their points from that area. 
 
Sophomore Amele Ngwafang was one of two Highlanders to set the pace for Radford on the evening. Her career high night included a near double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds. Khiana Johnson joined her teammate in setting the tone, notching 18 points to lead the Highlanders in scoring to shoot an efficient 7-for-14 from the floor.
 
Radford jumped out ahead of Vanderbilt after back-to-back K. Johnson baskets, to take the premature 5-2 lead. The Commodores stretched the lead back out but a Ngwafang layup and an Aiden Rainford jumper, her first points as a Highlander, would tie the game up at nine. With about 1:25 left, K. Johnson's layup in the paint shaved the first quarter deficit to five. 
 
The Nashville native Makaila Wilson entered the game and scores on her first attempt, then rejects a would-be Vanderbilt basket down seconds later. The fast break opportunity was corralled by Bryonna McClean who gets it back to score from Rainford in an efficient two-way stand from Radford. With the Vanderbilt lead now cut to just three, the Commodores call a timeout. A six-point swing shifted the momentum back to Vanderbilt but was halted by a Ngwafang layup. The Highlanders would head into the half down 12 after free throws from Jen Falconer and K. Johnson.
 
The third quarter started off with up-tempo defense with neither team able to make a basket in the opening 2:43. K.Johnson and Ngwafang were the primary scoring options in this stanza as well combining for all 12 of the Highlander's points. 
 
Sydney Nunley tallied her first points of the game with back-to-back jumpers inside the painted area to open the scoring in the final quarter, even making her way to the free throw line moments later. Vanderbilt's 79-percent shooting in this quarter gave way to the eventual win. 
 
The Commodores were led by Mariella Fasoula's double-double, 29 points and 11 rebounds.
 
BIRTHDAY BALLERS 
Radford had a pair of teammates with birthdays on opening night, Tina Lindenfeld and Taiye Johnson. Joining the starting lineup on her birthday was Lindenfeld who dished out a trio of assists in addition to grabbing a pair of rebounds. T. Johnson saw some action and posted her first points as a Highlander.
 
PLAY OF THE GAME 
 
NEW FACES 
Coach McGuire and his staff emptied the bench tonight against Vanderbilt, playing a total of 12 Highlanders in the game. Several of them made their debuts in a Radford uniform. 
 
Rainford started at the power forward position and tallied 20 minutes. Rachel LaLonde saw 18 minutes on the court, scoring her first points as a Highlander in the second quarter. The aforementioned T. Johnson gave Radford fans a glimpse of what's to come in the post. And, Ariel Williams made her minutes count by being perfect from the free throw line and snagging a rebound. 
 
UP NEXT 
The Highlanders continue their four-game road stretch, making the next stop in Orangeburg, S.C. to take on South Carolina State on Tuesday, November 12th at 2:00 p.m.
 
FOLLOW RADFORD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 
For more information on the Radford women's basketball team follow @Radford_WBB on Twitter and Instagram or Radford Women's Basketball on Facebook.
 
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