RADFORD, Va. – The Radford Women's Basketball team will make the quick trip to Blacksburg, Va. this upcoming Sunday to face off with New River Valley foe Virginia Tech.
SETTING THE STAGE
Opponent: (RV) Virginia Tech Hokies 7-3 (0-0 ACC)
Date/Time: Sunday, December 12th at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Cassell Coliseum (Blacksburg, Va.)
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Watch Live on ACCNX
Listen Live on WRAD 103.5 FM
Get Updates with Live Stats
SERIES HISTORY
The Highlanders and Hokies have a historic series dating back to 1976 when the Highlanders won four straight matchups, with two of those wins coming on Radford's home court before the Dedmon Center opened in 1981. However, Virginia Tech leads the all-time series, 27-9. Radford and Virginia Tech last met during the 2018-19 season in an intense 55-44 game that went the Hokies' way.
Bryonna McClean was a freshman that year and logged 13 minutes in the game, pulling down a rebound, a steal, and scoring two points.
SCOUTING THE HOKIES
Virginia Tech got off to a hot 5-0 start this season but are 2-3 over their last five games against some tough competition. The Hokies played at Liberty earlier this week and scored their lowest point total of the season with just 40. Aisha Sheppard, who has led the team all season in both points and rebounds, scored almost half of the team's points with 17.
Virginia Tech has just one loss on the home court this season which came against 11th-ranked Tennessee. Radford and Virginia Tech don't have any common opponents this season, but Virginia Tech did beat a fellow Big South conference member Campbell 84-39 earlier this year.
CHRIST'S OFFENSIVE BREAKOUT
Jackie Christ has been a regular starter for the Highlanders starting in over half of the team's games. She got the starting nod last weekend against American and played a huge part in fueling the offensive attack. Christ set a single-game career-high in points against American with 10 while shooting 5-of-7 from the field. She also pulled down a season-high five rebounds in likely her best all-around performance of the year so far. Christ has been a reliable shooter all season, scoring two or more buckets in six of eight games while shooting 54% along the way.
GUARDING AND SHOOTING THE THREE
The Highlanders are top-50 in Division I in guarding the three-pointer this season. Radford is holding its opponents to 23% from deep, which will be crucial to keep up against a strong three-point shooting team in Virginia Tech. Radford has out-shot their opponent from three-point range in all but one of their games this season.
Destinee Marshall has been stellar this season from deep, shooting 52% and scoring 33 of her 53 points from behind the arc.
Carmen Williams and
Kyanna Morgan are also both shooting over 40% from three-point range this season, shooting a combined 15-of-38. Overall, the team out-shoots its opponents 43% to 39%.
LALONDE WINNING ON THE BOARDS
Rachel LaLonde has been the rebounding leader for the team over the last three games, pulling down 10 or more in all of those contests. LaLonde now leads the team with an average 5.5 rebounds per game, including 4.6 defensive rebounds per game, which ranks sixth in the Big South. LaLonde has also tallied seven blocks on the season, four of which came in a career-best performance against Furman, which ranks tied for fourth in the Big South.
FOLLOW RADFORD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
To follow the Radford women's basketball team throughout the season, visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @Radford_WBB on Twitter, 'radford_wbb' Instagram or Radford Women's Basketball on Facebook.
