Radford Falls in Exciting Conclusion to Coastal Carolina Christmas Classic

Sunday, December 19

Conway, S.C.

4:30 PM

Radford University

4-7,0-0Big South

Coastal Carolina

10-1,0-0Sun Belt

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Radford	14	22	21	7	64
Coastal Carolina	24	22	15	24	85

Radford Falls in Exciting Conclusion to Coastal Carolina Christmas Classic

12/19/2021 7:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

CONWAY, S.C. – The Radford Women's Basketball program fell 85-64 to Coastal Carolina Sunday afternoon despite the Highlanders fighting back from a daunting deficit to make it just a four-point game in the fourth quarter.

The Chanticleers got off to a 10-0 start in the first quarter as the Highlanders fell behind early. Vanessa Blake, who earned her first career start, got the Highlanders on the board with a put-back three minutes into the contest to halt the run. Kyanna Morgan and Bridget Birkhead also nailed three pointers to support the Highlanders offensive attack. Carmen Williams had Radford's first of three buzzer-beater shots to end a quarter to make it a 24-14 deficit headed in the second.

A quick pair of buckets by Rachel LaLonde forced Coastal Carolina to immediately call a timeout in the second quarter. After back-to-back threes by the Chanticleers, LaLonde scored her seventh straight point via the free throw line. Blake corralled another offensive rebound and put-back to make it a 10-point deficit once again, but Coastal Carolina did not give in to the Highlanders' pressure.

Using trips to the charity stripe, as they did the majority of the game, Coastal Carolina went on a 7-2 run to push their lead. The final 80 seconds of the half belonged to the Highlanders, however. Alyssa Chapman kicked things off with a three-pointer. Bryonna McClean stole two possessions by the opponent and converted both into fast break points, including Radford's second buzzer beater of the night to end the half.

Coastal Carolina took a 46-36 lead into the second half and Radford came out of the locker room with their best quarter of the weekend. The Highlanders outscored the Chanticleers 21-15 in the third quarter thanks to an offensive effort by the entire team. Jackie Christ, Danielle Montelbano, Ashley Tudor, Morgan, and McClean all scored in the first five minutes. The offensive outburst made it just a 61-57 game headed into the final 10 minutes.

The offensive attack ran out of fuel in the final quarter, as Coastal Carolina outscored Radford 24-7 to seal the victory. Turnovers and fouls plagued the Highlanders all night and the Chanticleers took advantage to the tune of 28 made free throws and 25 points off turnovers.

McClean paced the Highlanders in nearly every category, tallying 13 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Morgan also scored double-digit points with 12 on the night thanks to her 3-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc. All 11 Highlanders who entered the game also scored, which tied for the highest total of Highlanders to score in a single game this season.

NEXT UP
The Highlanders will take some time off over the holiday season but will regroup to open up Big South play against a tough UNC Asheville team on December 29th.

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.