RADFORD, Va.-- In game two of Saturday's doubleheader, the Highlanders with faceoff against the Bulldogs in the Dedmon Center at 4:30 p.m. 

Radford will look to snap its current two-game losing streak after falling to High Point and most recently Hampton on Thursday, Jan. 9th. After what seemed like a foregone conclusion, Radford's fourth quarter push trimmed the Hampton lead to just one thanks to a pair of free throws from Bryonna McClean. The Pirates (8-6, 4-1 Big South) eventually pulled away late in the quarter to hold off the Highlanders (4-9, 2-2 Big South) to a 51-48 finish. Radford entered that stanza trailing Hampton 43-35, a free throw from Amele Ngwafang and a put-back from Aiden Rainford worked the lead from seven to five points. The defensive pressure in this quarter mimicked that of the second half from High Pont, as the Highlanders started to make a dent in the Pirate lead. On a dish from Makaila Wilson in the paint, Rainford notched yet another basket, to make the game 43-40 with about seven minutes remaining.

The aforementioned McClean free throws came in clutch as Hampton's Laren VanArsdale missed her next take. The Highlanders capitalized off of that mishap and Ngwafang went to work on the low block with two offensive rebounds, turned to a layup. This gave Radford a one-point advantage over Hampton at 44-43, 5:15. A three-pointer from Pirate, Ashley Bates, allowed them to retake the premature Highlander lead, only by two. Rainford's next basket tied the game at 46 all, followed by a Khiana Johnson fastbreak layup that pushed Radford ahead by a pair of points. A Hampton layup evened the game up at 48 and a few missed offensive opportunities forced Radford to foul late in the game in an attempt to save clock. 

Ngwafang quietly notched the third double-double of the season and her career tonight. She patrolled the painted area, finishing with 11 points and 16 rebounds, tying the career high set at SC State. Johnson, Ngwafang, and Rainford all ended the game with 10 or more points for Radford. Rainford matched Ngwafang's total of 11 while adding a block, and six rebounds. Johnson led all Highlanders with 13 points in addition to a pair of steals, assists, and a rebound. Wilson followed closely behind with seven points, two steals, two assists, and five rebounds.

Radford swept UNC Asheville last year during the regular season with scores of 60-46 and 45-44, then during round two of the Big South Women's Basketball Tournament 59-52. Prior to this semifinal win, the Bulldogs had eliminated the Highlanders in the last three tournament meetings. Top-seeded Radford avenged the past and went on to host as well as win the 2019 Big South Championship. The Highlanders shot 90.9 percent from the free throw line going 10-for-11 during the game. Near double-doubles from Rivers (18pts, 9rebs) and Walker (14pts, 9rebs) led the offense. With Khiana Johnson the next in double digits at 13. 

Returners Nadiria Evans (9pts), Brooke Jordan-Brown (9pts, 8rebs), and Sonora Dengokl (9pts, 5rebs) were all crucial in last year's game. Now graduated, Jessica Wall, played a big role for the Bulldogs through her 35 minutes with 12 points.

A Radford win would snap the current two-game losing streak and increase Radford's dominance in the all-time series to 55 games. A loss would extend UNC Asheville's winning streak to five games and give the Bulldogs their fourth conference win with only one loss at Hampton (L, 59-68).

In NCAA DI women's basketball, Radford as a team cracks the top-100 teams in fewest fouls at 40th/1st in conference and personal fouls per game 86th/3rd in conference. Khiana is 146th in assists/5th in conference and in assists per game 116th/4th in conference. Sydney Nunley is 215th/5th in conference for blocked shots per game. Amele Ngwafang is 120th/2nd in conference for rebounds per game.

Jen Falconer is five games away from tying Jayda Worthy (2014-18) for career games played at 123. Falconer & Johnson continue to climb the career assists ladder, Falconer is eighth at 286 and Johnson is ninth at 285. Sydney Nunley has now solidified herself at No.7 in individual career blocks at 106.

UNC Asheville currently sits atop the Big South standings after opening conference play with a 4-1 record. The Bulldogs are currently on a three game win streak as they have one game remaining in their four games in eight days stretch. The Bulldogs current win streak comes after defeating Campbell and USC Upstate earlier this week before taking down High Point Thursday night. In Thursday night's win over the Panthers, the Bulldogs mounted a huge third quarter where they outscored High Point 24-8. Sonora Dengokl scored a season-high 26 points while shooting 75% from the field and scoring 10 points in two separate quarters. Dengokl's 26 points are the most scored by a Bulldog this season and the most she has scored since her 36 point game against USC Upstate a year ago

UP NEXT
Radford will take a trip to Farmville, Va. to face Longwood on Education Day at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14th.

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