HIGHLANDERS HOST LEAGUE LEADING CAMELS

RADFORD, Va. - Radford (8-10, 6-3 BSC) will look to continue their hot streak tonight against Big South leading Campbell (13-5, 8-1 BSC) in the Dedmon Center. The Highlanders are hoping to extend their winning streak to five games and break the Camel's streak of six games.

Radford most recently took on Gardner-Webb and won there at Paul Porter Arena for the first time since the 2016-17 season. The Highlanders rode career days and double-doubles from Khiana Johnson, Sydney Nunley, as well as Amele Ngwafang. Radford came out firing on all cylinders in the first period tallying a total of 26 points to Gardner-Webb's 15. Tina Lindenfeld opened up the scoring for the Highlanders going 3-for-3 from behind the arc, causing a Runnin' Bulldog timeout. Prior to that pause in momentum, Johnson and Nunley had also scored for Radford. Down the stretch, more and more Highlanders got involved on the offensive end from Aiden Rainford's layups, Ngwafang's free throw, to Makaila Wilson's fastbreak jumper.

Gardner-Webb started the final quarter on a 6-0 run before Johnson answered with a jumper to break the drought for Radford. Nunley went to work in the paint moments later and extended the lead to eight. The charity stripe was again a mainstay for the Highlanders who made 16 trips there during the final section. The lead was cut to four points around 3:28 but a made free throw by Rainford and a tip-in by Nunley ignited the final push. In the waning momentS Johnson, Nunley, Lindenfeld and Wilson all went to the free throw line. Wilson's make propelled the lead to 11 where it would stay for the final 13 seconds of play.

Savannah Plentovich played 28 minutes for Gardner-Webb and scored 30 points. She also had several steals, two assists, and a pair of rebounds. Plentovich made seven threes and was 10-for-14 from the floor.

Coach McGuire and the 2019-20 Highlanders had posted 12 total double-doubles this season. Ngwafang notched her fourth career double-double in a matter of 12 minutes. She ended the contest with 11 points, a block, an assist, and 10 rebounds. Both Johnson and Nunley set new career highs on the afternoon for total points. Johnson's newly set 22-points was paired with 10 assists, which ties her career high last done at ETSU this season. She now has two double-double performances this season and three on her career. Nunley grabbed 11 boards and scored her new career high 25-points. She has now notched a double-doubles in the last four games played, for a season total of six and career total of 18.

Lindenfeld ignited the first quarter push as she knocked down the first basket of the game, then proceeded to go 3-for-3 from behind the arc. She added 14 points, three rebounds, an assist, and a block to the Highlander cause. Radford ended the game shooting an impressive 58.3 percent from the floor, 45.5 percent from the three, and 60.5 percent from the free throw line. The Highlanders shot a total of 38 free throws. They were able to capitalize on Gardner-Webb mishaps for a total of 22 points, the paint was the prime scoring spot as Radford notched 38 points from there.

Radford has faced Campbell a total of 41 times, with the first meeting in the 1986 season. The Highlanders have won the last 10 games, leading the all-time series 29-12. Last season, Radford took on Campbell several times including the championship game in the Big South Tournament. The Highlanders swept the Camels each time, with the final contest having a score of 57-45. The victory propelled Radford to the NCAA Tournament and broke the conference championship drought, while claiming the First Big South championship since 1996 and tenth in program history. Radford, won has won 18 straight games, and improved to 26-6 (17-1 BSC) on the season (program-record wins). Rivers and Walker were named to the All-Tournament Team with Rivers being named MVP. The Highlanders were led by Rivers' double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds. There were key contributions from Khiana Johnson with 13 points, Sydney Nunley at 10 points and eight rebounds, as well as Walker with seven points and eight rebounds. Radford tallied 30 points in the paint and nine off of turnovers.

Hayley Barber notched 10 points and paced the Camels in scoring with Kyra Davis with six rebounds. Campbell was held to 29.5 percent, 21.7 percent from three, and 80 percent from the charity stripe.

The score was both tied and changed several times, with the Highlanders' biggest lead of 19 points in the third quarter at 3:56.

A Radford win would extend the winning streak to five games, the longest of the season, and break the red-hot Campell's six game winning streak. It would also give the Camels their second conference loss. A Radford loss would break the current winning streak, improve Campbell to 9-1 in the Big South, and improve the Camels road record to 5-5.

In NCAA DI women's basketball, Radford as a team cracks the top-100 in fewest fouls at 56, personal fouls per game at 68, rebound margin at 88, and scoring defense at 89. Khiana is 121st/4th in assists, 111th/4 in assists per game, 133rd/3rd in field goal attempts. Amele Ngwafang is 143rd/4th in free throw attempts and 139th/2nd in rebounds per game. Sydney Nunley is 204th/6th in blocked shots per game and 179th/3rd in rebounds per game.

Jen Falconer will set a new record of games played for Radford women's basketball, after today's game at 124 career games. Falconer & Johnson continue to climb the career assists ladder, Johnson is seventh at 306 and Falconer is eighth at 298. Sydney Nunley is now tied for sixth in individual career blocks at 112.

In non-conference play, Campell has taken down St. Andrews, Western Carolina, Kennesaw State, UNC-G, and Bluefield College (Va.). However, they have suffered losses from Old Dominion, NC Central, Wake Forest, and Hofstra before commencing Big South Conference play. The Camels have the best home record in the conference at 9-0, but struggle on the road being only 4-5. They have faced every team in the Big South except the Highlanders. Their lone conference loss comes at UNC Asheville 52-60. Otherwise, Campbell has beaten their Big South opponents by a margin of 486-334.In their last game versus CSU, Luana Serranho matched a career-high 19 points. The win improved the Big South leading Camels (13-5, 8-1 Big South) to 9-0 inside Gore Arena this season marking the best start at home since the 1997-98 season when the Camels started 12-0 at home. The league win also pushed the Camels to its best start in Big South play since rejoining the league in 2011.

Radford heads to Clinton, S.C. for their second bout against the Blue Hose of Presbyterian on Saturday, Feb. 1st 2:00 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Jen Falconer: G; 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior

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

#2 Tina Lindenfeld: F; 6' 1"; Junior

#35 Amele Ngwafang: F; 6' 0"; Sophomore

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

#14 Makaila Wilson: G; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#23 Aiden Rainford: F; 6' 1"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#5 Jen Falconer
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior
: G

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

#2 Tina Lindenfeld
: 6' 1"; Junior
: F

#35 Amele Ngwafang
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: F

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

#14 Makaila Wilson
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: G

#23 Aiden Rainford
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: F