RADFORD, Va. - The Highlanders are back out to their longest winning streak of the season at four games after defeating the Camels a few days back. Radford will look to continue this streak and their momentum in an early tip, hosting Longwood on Tuesday, Feb. 18th at 11 a.m. in the Dedmon Center. The early morning tip-off is due to Education Day festivities.
Just a few days ago, Radford (12-11, 10-4 BSC) bested Big South Conference leading Campbell (17-6, 11-2 BSC) in a redemptive, 48-42 victory. The Highlanders' defense was key in the win, holding the Fightin' Camels to 28.8 percent shooting on the day. Radford's big day in Gore Arena snapped a 10 game winning streak and Campbell's perfect home record. The regular season series now sits in a 1-1 split but today's triumph improves the Highlander's all-time series wins to 30 over the Camels. Both teams went without a made shot for the first two minutes of the fourth period, but Nunley's split trip to the free throw line broke that drought. McClean's layup was circumvented by a 7-0 Camel run, forcing a Highlander timeout. Sometime later and back at the charity stripe was Nunley, who tied the game at 42 all. Johnson and Nunley notched clutch baskets within minutes of one another, the lead had now been restored to four points. To seal the win, a successful trip to the free throw line by Wilson propelled the Radford lead to six points with only 17 seconds remaining.
Campbell's last basket of the game came at the 4:24 mark and was a part of the aforementioned 7-0, a three-pointer from ShyAnne Tuelle.
Nunley and Johnson combined for 23 points and seven rebounds on the day. For Campbell, the frontrunners were Taya Bolden (11 points) and Hayley Barber (10 points). McClean and Wilson provided a well-balanced game off the bench for Radford. The sophomores each had eight points in the contest. McClean played 28 minutes and grabbed six rebounds, in addition to a block. Makaila Wilson got it done from every spot on the floor offensively to go along with her rebound, steal, and assist through 18 minutes.
This defensive battle saw four ties and three lead changes. The Highlanders held the Camels to 42 points, which is the least amount of points scored by Campbell in Big South Conference play. Radford held the opposition to a point less than the initial matchup, where they scored 43 points.
The last time Longwood and Radford played, it was the closest game of the season to that point. Radford's (5-10, 3-3 Big South) defense held firm in the waning moments of the fourth quarter as Longwood (8-7, 7-4 Big South) launched up several shots. The Highlanders outlasted the Lancers 62-61, propelled by Khiana Johnson's newly set career high 20 points. After a Highlander timeout, the deficit would bounce around but never reach below four points. Not until back-to-back three pointers from Kyla McMakin now left the Radford lead at one point, 62-61, with 43 seconds remaining. Longwood calls their 30 second timeout to design a play for the hot-handed McMakin. With her shot off to the right, the Lancers grabbed the offensive rebound and took two more shots to no avail as the buzzer sounded.
Through her 36 minutes played, Johnson set a new scoring career high of 20 points. Her previous high was 19 points against Campbell last season. She added three assists, a rebound, steal, while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 75 percent from behind the arc. This is the ninth time she's scoring in double figures this season. In 20 minutes off the bench, Nunley was a force to be reckoned with on the low block. She posted her third double-double of the season and 15th of her career. Nunley was 5-for-9 from the floor and sent back a pair of Lancer shots. Her 10 points paired well with her season high 13 rebounds.
A Radford win would put the Highlanders on their longest winning streak of the season at five games, give Radford its fourth season series sweep, and extend Longwood's losing streak to four games. A Radford loss would put the season series at a 1-1 split, snap the Highlander's winning streak, and put Longwood back in the win column after dropping several contests in a row.
In NCAA DI women's basketball, Radford as a team cracks the top-100 in fewest fouls at 46 fewest fouls, 38 in field-goal percentage defense, 88 personal fouls per game, 85 in rebound margin, 96 in rebounds per game, 30 in scoring defense, and 94 in three-point field goal defense. Khiana Johnson is ranked 99th in assists per game and 121st in assists. Amele Ngwafang is 121st in free throw attempts and 182nd in rebounds per game. Sydney Nunley is 138th in rebounds per game.
Jen Falconer has set the new program record for career games played and it keeps climbing at 128, close behind is Khiana at No.3 with 122 games played. Falconer has passed Destinee Walker to take the No.1 spot in three-pointers attempted 404, with Johnson in second at 370. The duo is also seventh and fifth in assists at 329 and 305 respectively. Sydney Nunley is sixth for career blocks at 114. Johnson is 10th for three-pointers made on her career with 106. Makaila Wilson cracked the top-10 in career three-pointers attempted at 177.
Since their first game against Radford, Longwood has played eight games including a season series sweep of UNC Asheville. Most recently, the Lancers faced the Pirates of Hampton back on Saturday, Feb. 15th. Hampton's Laren VanArsdale recorded a season-high for the Pirates 31 points to defeat Longwood 90-76. Freshman Kyla McMakin finished with her third double-double of the season, and Tra'Dayja Smith led the offense with 19 points, but Hampton's offense led three Pirates in double-figures prevailed inside of Willett Hall.
Hampton (14-10, 10-5 Big South) had three pirates finish with 15+ points led by Laren VanArsdale 11-of-14 shooting for a season-high performance for the Pirates with 31 points.
The loss is the third straight for the Lancers in Big South Conference play and matches the longest such streak for Longwood this season. Longwood falls two games below .500 in Big South play with six Big South games left on the docket for Longwood.
UP NEXT
Radford's Play4Kay Pink Game will be versus High Point on Saturday, Feb. 22nd at 2:00 p.m. in a doubleheader with the men's team.
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