Presbyterian Presb 9-13,5-6 Big South

Radford Rad 10-12,6-5 Big South

Presbyterian Presb

9-13,5-6 Big South

Final

Feb. 01, 2023

Radford Rad

10-12,6-5 Big South

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Presbyterian Presb	14	14	13	9	50
Radford Rad	15	22	13	21	71

Summary
Box Score

Rob Simmons

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 2/1/2023 9:40:00 PM

Highlanders Storm Past Blue Hose Behind Explosive Offense and Stout Defense

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's basketball program continued their hot streak on the home court Wednesday night with a dominant 71-50 victory over Presbyterian. The Highlanders avenged a loss to the Blue Hose from earlier this season thanks to three players in double figures scoring and another great defensive effort.

Radford set the tone early, bursting out the gates shooting 46% overall and hitting two of their first three shots from outside the arc. The offensive push came from all over as Vanessa Blake and Carmen Williams stepped up early to combine for nine points. A late 6-0 run by Presbyterian would make it just a 15-14 advantage for Radford at the end of the first quarter.

After briefly taking their only lead of the night to open the second quarter, Rachel LaLonde quickly scored four points to push Radford back ahead. The offense exploded with a game-high 22 points in the second quarter to out pace a dangerous opposing offense. LaLonde led that charge with nine points while Traylor also came alive for six points. At halftime, Radford held a 37-28 lead shooting 48% overall and outpacing Presbyterian, the best shooting offense in the conference, by 15%.

Neither team would fully break away in the third quarter as Radford looked to preserve its lead. Williams again paced the offense with five points while LaLonde netted a three-pointer to add to her hot shooting night. Presbyterian matched Radford with 13 points each in the third, setting up for an exciting finish with Radford leading 40-31.

Knowing Presbyterian's capability to fire from three, Radford needed to keep the offense firing. With a 15-0 run to start the final quarter, the Highlanders did just that and then some. LaLonde got the scoring started, Blake cut through the defense to hit double figure points and Wagner hit a three-pointer that made it 57-41 Radford just two minutes into the quarter.

Radford wouldn't let up as Ashley Panem, Blake, Williams and then Blake again would hit four straight baskets that put Presbyterian away for good. Presbyterian was held scoreless until right at the four-minute mark of the quarter, but a couple late shots wouldn't be enough as Radford fully pulled away for the 71-50 victory.

LaLonde (17 points), Blake (15 points) and Williams (15 points) all hit double figures scoring tonight while LaLonde secured her fifth double-double of the year with 12 rebounds. While Ashlyn Traylor was held relatively quiet with seven points tonight, the freshman still got it done in other ways with six assists and four steals. Panem also just missed double figures with her nine points, four rebounds and two assists as well.

THAT DEDMON DEFENSE…
Radford's defense at home has become a menace for visiting opponents this season. After allowing 74 points to Gardner-Webb, opponents have averaged just 47 points per game. Radford has also held opponents to under 55 points in each of those four home games. Opponents are also just shooting 31% overall and a cold 21% from three-point range. Overall on the season Radford has held opponents to an average 61.5 ppg which ranks second in the Big South.

BLAKE JUST MISSES FIRST DOUBLE-DOUBLE
The sophomore Blake just missed a career milestone tonight as she came up just one rebound short of her first career double-double. With 15 points and nine rebounds, three of which on the offensive end, her presence was felt tonight in a big way. Blake faced a tall task on the defensive end against Bryanna Brady who leads the conference in shooting percentage, but Blake and the Radford defense did a good job forcing five misses and a turnover by the fifth-year senior.

UP NEXT
The Highlanders will hit the road this weekend to face a surging Winthrop squad that has won back-to-back games for the first time this season after defeating Presbyterian last weekend and Longwood tonight. Radford will look to stay hot in its own right with a 2 p.m. tip this Saturday.

Follow Women's Basketball on Social Media
For more information on the Radford women's basketball team, follow @Radford_WBB on Twitter and Instagram or Radford Women's Basketball on Facebook.

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