RADFORD, Va. - Radford is back in the win column after completing the sweep of USC Upstate back on Tuesday, Feb. 25th. The Highlanders will now be seeking out their sixth season series sweep as they face the Eagles of Winthrop on Saturday, Feb. 29th at 2:00 p.m. in Rock Hill, S.C.
Radford routed USC Upstate 78-57 behind career performances from Amele Ngwafang and Makaila Wilson on Tuesday night. The sophomore duo combined for 46 points, shooting 56.5 percent from the floor, and grabbing 17 rebounds. The Highlanders nearly doubled the offensive output of the Spartans in the opening stanza, 21-10. Radford increased their defensive presence in the second period, holding Upstate to only five points while going for 17. Heading into the break, the Highlanders held a 38-15 lead over the Spartans with Wilson setting the tone offensively. To this point, she was a perfect 4-for-4 in the game through 12 minutes played. Ngwafang wasn't too far behind with 10 points, and perfect in her own right at 6-for-6 at the charity stripe. Upstate battled back into contention in the third period, outscoring Radford 24-15. After giving the Highlanders a scare, Radford posted a 25-piece in the final stanza.
Wilson's career night came via a diversified performance as she set career highs in four different categories. Her 23 points, six rebounds, seven three-pointers made, and eight field-goals made where all new highs for the sophomore sharp shooter. Through her 28 minutes played tonight, she ended the contest shooting a solid 72.7 percent from the floor and an impressive 87.5 percent from deep. Ngwafang notched her sixth career double-double today with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Her 23 points were good enough for a career high in that category. She also added a pair of assists and a career high in free throws made at 13.
When Radford took on Winthrop back on Jan. 18th, the contest came down to the wire in the Dedmon Center. In yet another thriller, the Highlanders (6-10, 4-3 Big South) held their own on defense with 17 seconds remaining, to defeat the Eagles (7-9, 4-3 Big South) 54-53 on Saturday afternoon. This is the second consecutive game that Radford has won by a one-point margin.
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. Sydney 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 back-to-back games with a double-double. She returned to the starting lineup and played a total of 33 minutes. She tallied 18 points, a steal, two blocks, and 13 boards. This is her fourth double-double of the season and 16th of her career.
A Radford win would continue the Highlanders' winning ways and give the Highlanders their sixth season series sweep. A Radford loss would give Winthrop their second consecutive win and give the Eagles the season series split.
In NCAA DI women's basketball, Radford as a team cracks the top-100 in fewest fouls at 81st fewest fouls, 43rd in field-goal percentage defense, 98th personal fouls per game, 67th in rebound margin, 100th in rebounds, 68th in rebounds per game, and 44th in scoring defense. Khiana Johnson is ranked 71st in assists and 76th in assists per game. Amele Ngwafang is ranked 31st in free throw attempts, 78th in free throws made, and 155th in rebounds per game. Sydney Nunley is 162nd in rebounds per game. Makaila Wilson is ranked 167th in three-point field goals per game.
In the Big South, Johnson is 17th in scoring, fourth in assists, and sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio. Nunley sits at 18th in scoring, second in field goal percentage, fourth in rebounding, seventh in blocked shots, and ninth in offensive rebounds. Ngwafang is 26th in scoring, second in rebounding, 13th in free throw percentage, tied for 15th in blocked shots, second in offensive rebounds, and 13h in defensive rebounds. Aiden Rainford is 19th in rebounding, tied for 15th in blocked shots, and 11th in offensive rebounds. Wilson leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage and is sixth in three-point field goals made.
Since their first game against Radford, Winthrop has played 10 games and gone 4-6 in that span. The Eagles' most recent victory comes on the road at Longwood back on Tuesday, Feb. 25th (63-60). Winthrop women's basketball completed the season sweep over Longwood with a 63-60 win on the road Tuesday night. The Eagles are now 11-15 overall with a 8-9 conference record with three games remaining in the season.
The Eagles out rebounded the Lancers, 53-42. The Eagles had 33 bench points, the Lancers had one. Winthrop record 18 second chance points, Longwood had six. Myra Strickland contributed 17 of Winthrop's 33 bench points – a new career-high for the freshman. Kem Nwabudu recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Winthrop committed 19 turnovers, resulting in 15 Lancers points. Longwood turned the ball over 18 times, resulting in 10 points for the Eagles. The Eagles have won their 11th game of the season, the most wins in a season under Lynette Woodard.
UP NEXT
Radford continues their road stint to UNC Asheville on Wednesday, March 4th at 6:00 p.m.
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