RADFORD, Va. - The Highlanders will travel to South Carolina for their first look at the Spartans of USC Upstate on Tuesday, Jan. 21st at 6:00 p.m.

Most recently, Radford played another one-point thriller versus Winthrop on Saturday, Jan. 18th. The Highlander defense held yet again in the waning moments leading to a 54-53 victory over the Eagles. Radford has improved to 6-10, 4-3 Big South. Sydney Nunley returned to the startling lineup and helped make the difference late in this contest. She had another double-double performance, making it back-to-back games in double digit outings. The Highlanders came out with the hot-hand and scored 32 points through the first two quarters, keeping the Eagles to 23 points. In the opening stanza, Radford's well-balanced approach shined as the offense got rolling and the defense held Winthrop to nine points.  

In the fourth, both teams posted 10 points. The lead changed a total of three times and the scored tied twice. Around the 6:30 mark, Tina Lindenfeld's three ball pushed Radford ahead 48-47. Moments later, back-to-back plays switched the lead in favor of the Eagles but not the momentum. Nunley returned to the paint and went to work, her layup brought the Highlanders within one. A missed Winthrop jumper paired with a foul sent Nunley to the line for the seventh and eighth time. Making both, she propelled Radford ahead 54-53. With 17 seconds left in regulation, both teams called 30 second timeouts to sub in players. A Winthrop three-pointer launched with two seconds left but was off the mark, corralled by Nunley to end the game. 

Nunley has now had back-to-back games with a double-double. Through her 33 minutes she posted 18 points, a steal, two blocks, and 13 rebounds. This is her fourth double-double of the season and 16th of her career. 

Radford swept USC Upstate and led the season series 2-0. The Highlanders met the Spartans on Feb. 2nd (W, 82-41) and Mar. 2nd (W, 55-43).

The final game came on senior day, where Up- state made it a closer contest. Rivers and Nunley had double-doubles to lead the way for Radford, with Felgemacher's near double-double contribut- ing as well. The Highlanders shot 90 percent from the charity stripe going 9-for-10. They also posted 41 points in the paint with 17 bench points.

The lead changed four times, and the game had only one tie. Both teams had shooting woes, shooting under 40 percent from the field and less than 10 percent from three.

Upstate was led by Natalia Panufnik's 12 points and DeNisha Swain's six rebounds. The Spartans shot 88 percent from the charity stripe going 7-for-8.

After this victory the Highlanders won the regular season Big South title and extended the win streak to 13 games, a then program record.

A Radford win would give the Highlanders their longest winning streak of the season at three games and extend Upstate's drought to eight games. A loss would give Upstate their second win in the all-time series and grant the Spartans their second Big South win.

In NCAA DI women's basketball, Radford as a team cracks the top-100 in fewest fouls at 49, fewest turnovers at 97, and personal fouls per game at 94. Khiana is 143rd/5th assists per game. Sydney Nunley is 201st/6th for blocked shots per game. Amele Ngwafang 152nd/2nd in rebounds per game.

Jen Falconer is two 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 297 and Johnson is ninth at 292. Sydney Nunley has now solidified herself at No.7 in individual career blocks at 111.

Upstate's non-conference slate was just as tough as Radford's facing ECU, South Carolina, and Georgia. The Spartans entered conference play 5-4. They picked up their first Big South victory over Charleston Southern back on Dec. 28th, 70-53 and have been on a seven game losing streak since. Upstate has faced Campbell, High Point, UNC Asheville, Winthrop, Longwood, Hampton, and most recently Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C. The Spartans fell to the Runnin' Bulldogs 53-63. Three players hit double-figures and Barrett Herring hit a career high in her fifth consecutive game with 18 points, a game high. She also had seven rebounds, two steals, and a pair of blocks. 

UP NEXT
Radford will make their second trip to North Carolina, this time to take on Gardner-Webb on Saturday Jan. 25th at 2:00 p.m.

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