Women's Basketball 2/25/2019 10:57:00 AM

WOMEN'S HOOPS TRAVELS TO UNC ASHEVILLE ON TUESDAY; TAKE AIM AT SCHOOL-RECORD 12TH STRAIGHT VICTORY

SETTING THE SCENE
Radford (19-6, 13-1 Big South) vs. UNC Asheville (15-11, 10-5 Big South)
Date: Tuesday, February 26
Where: Asheville, NC
Time: 7:00 p.m.
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THE SERIES
Radford is 52-24 all-time in the series and are 22-12 at UNCA.

LAST TIME OUT
Radford junior guard Khiana Johnson came up with a steal and go-ahead layup with 1:02 remaining and the Highlanders held on for a 61-57 victory against the Campbell Camels, on Saturday afternoon at the Dedmon Center. Radford, who tied a program-record with their 11^thconsecutive victory, improved to 19-6 overall and 13-1 in the conference.Lydia Rivers produced a team-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting and also went 6-for-7 from the foul line to pace Radford. The Big South's leading rebounder also grabbed nine boards in 33 minutes of action. Johnson finished with 15 points, six rebounds and two enormous steals. Senior guard/forward Destinee Walker added 10 points and played all 40 minutes.The Highlanders shot 32.1 percent (17-of-53) from the floor but went 25-of-35 (71.4 percent) from the line and outscored the Camels by 20 points on the foul line. Radford also outscored the visitors by a 26-12 count in point off turnovers.

NATIONALLY RANKED
The Highlanders continue to be one of the nation's top defensive squads as they are yielding just 56.4 points per game, which is good for 25th in the country. Radford is also 7th in the nation in 3-pt field goal defense (.259 percent) and 10th in overall field goal percentage defense (.349 percent).

HIGHLANDER MISCELLANEOUS
Radford has tied their program-record with 11 straight wins, a mark that they first set last season…Redshirt junior Lydia Rivers leads the Big South in rebounding at 10.1 per game and is 35th in the NCAA in the category…Walker has reached double-figures in scoring in 23-of-25 contests...She is now 8^thon Radford's all-time scoring list with 1,224 points…Nunley is averaging a league-high 11.3 rpg. in Big South contests...Johnson is averaging 5.2 assists per game in league games, which is good for 2nd in the league...The Highlanders are outscoring their Big South foes by an average of 16.3 ppg...Head coach Mike McGuire is 102-51 (.667) over the last five seasons after going 7-23 during his first season.

ABOUT THE OPPONENT
The Bulldogs have won four straight contests to move into fourth-place in the Big South standings…UNCA is 11-1 at home this season…Sonora Dengokl is averaging a team-high 15.1 ppg and Jessica Wall is also in double-digits at 10.8 ppg…Wall has hit a team-high 67 3-pointers and also leads the squad with 62 assists…The Bulldogs are averaging 60.2 ppg. and are allowing just 56.2 ppg.

LAST MEETING
The Highlanders put on a defensive clinic in their 60-46 victory against the Bulldogs in the Big South season-opener on January 5. The Highlanders, who won their third consecutive league opener, held the visitors to a 27.4 shooting clip as UNCA connected on just 17-of-62 field goal attempts.Senior guard/forward Destinee Walker, who was honored prior to the contest as Radford's newest member of the 1,000 Point Club, scored 16 points, corralled a career-high 13 rebounds and added three steals in a 40-minute effort. Redshirt junior center Sydney Nunley produced her third straight double-double with 10 points and a then career-best 15 rebounds. Classmate Khiana Johnson, who also logged all 40 minutes, was also in double-digits with 12 points and dished a then career-high seven assists.

UP NEXT
Radford will hold their Senior Day festivities against USC Upstate on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

FOLLOW RADFORD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
To follow the Radford women's basketball team, visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordWBB on Twitter, 'radfordwbb' on Instagram or Radford Women's Basketball on Facebook.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Khiana Johnson: G; 5' 7"; Junior

#50 Sydney Nunley: C; 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior

#20 Lydia Rivers: F; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#10 Destinee Walker: G/F; 5' 11"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#4 Khiana Johnson
: 5' 7"; Junior
: G

#50 Sydney Nunley
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Junior
: C

#20 Lydia Rivers
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#10 Destinee Walker
: 5' 11"; Senior
: G/F