Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
JoiWilliams
65
Radford Rad 1-5,0-0 Big South
71
Winner Norfolk St. Norf 5-1,0-0 MEAC
Radford Rad
1-5,0-0 Big South
65
Final
71
Norfolk St. Norf
5-1,0-0 MEAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Radford Rad 18 13 16 18 65
Norfolk St. Norf 14 15 17 25 71

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Women’s Basketball’s Pushes Norfolk State to the Brink, Comes Up Just Short

NORFOLK, Va. – The Radford women's basketball program was locked in an intense battle for the full 40 minutes with Norfolk State Wednesday night, ultimately coming up just short 71-65 in the closing seconds.
 
KEY STATS
  • Joi Williams continued her hot streak as of late, improving on her single game career high set last Sunday against Navy with 21 points on seven makes from the floor.
  • Cate Carlson got back on track in her homecoming with 11 points on 67% shooting.
  • Radford got back on track with rebounding, out rebounding a physical Spartans squad 31-29. It's the first time this season Radford has out rebounded an opponent.
  • Radford attempted 27 three pointers tonight, a season-high, hitting 10 of them for a 37% clip.
  • Radford's 15 turnovers were also a season low, but Norfolk State also played a clean ball with only 10 turnovers.
 
PLAY BY PLAY
In another tough test on Radford's schedule, the Highlanders visited Norfolk State who came into Wednesday night's meeting ranked tenth in the College Insider Mid Major Poll. Right out the gates, Radford brought intensity to the game forcing the Spartans to play from behind early.
 
After a 5-0 run began the game by the Spartans, the Highlanders immediately hit back getting Williams and Carlson who combined for a 10-2 Radford run to take a commanding 10-7 lead. Out of the media timeout, Radford got another pair of threes from the Williams/Carlson duo to build an 18-14 advantage after one quarter.
 
The three-pointers would continue raining down in the second quarter as Reniya Jones came off the bench and immediately scored from deep. Norfolk State would keep at Radford's heels, but layups from Adriana Shipp-Davis and Kirah Dandridge kept Radford pacing ahead.
 
Neither team would hit a shot from the floor over a three-minute stretch going towards halftime, but free throws allowed Norfolk State to claw back and make it a two-point game. At halftime, Williams and Carlson had combined for 20 points to help Radford lead 31-29.
 
Out of halftime, Norfolk State would get their first lead since the opening minutes with an 8-2 run to go up 37-33. Shipp-Davis would score Radford's first four points of the half while another three from Williams would put Radford back up 40-39.
 
Carlson and Williams continued to cook to help Radford stay within reach of the renewed Spartans attack, but it was Napper who hit a turn around jumper at the buzzer to give Radford a 47-46 lead going into the final quarter.
 
Jones would bank in a three-pointer to give Radford a 50-48 edge in the fourth, but Radford would have just two total makes over the first eight minutes of the fourth quarter as the offense went cold. After Williams hit some free throws to only make it a 59-54 deficit, the Spartans wouldn't budge at the free throw line the rest of the way.
 
Makayla Firebaugh would come up huge with a four point play off an and-one from a three-pointer, her first points of the day, to make it just a 65-62 game with 28 seconds to go. Norfolk State would hold on, however, sealing the 71-65 finish at the free throw line.
 
AROUND THE BIG SOUTH
  • Winthrop came up short in a road visit to UNC Wilmington with a 66-48 final.
 
UP NEXT
Radford has finished their current three-game road trip and is back home this Saturday, November 23 to host Eastern Kentucky with a 2 p.m. tip. The women's basketball program is partnering with Bobcat Backpacks for the game, as fans will get a free ticket to the game with every three canned goods donated.
 
Follow Women's Basketball on Social Media
For more information on the Radford women's basketball team, follow @Radford_WBB on X and Instagram or Radford Women's Basketball on Facebook.
Print Friendly Version