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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
AshlynTraylorWalker2024Tournament
51
Winthrop Win 14-16,8-8 Big South
64
Winner Radford Rad 14-17,9-7 Big South
Winthrop Win
14-16,8-8 Big South
51
Final
64
Radford Rad
14-17,9-7 Big South
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Winthrop Win 12 13 13 13 51
Radford Rad 14 15 17 18 64

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Traylor-Walker and Williams Lead Second Half Charge over Winthrop in Big South Quarterfinals

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's basketball program picked up a strong victory in the Big South quarterfinals Thursday night 64-51 thanks to huge fourth quarter performances from Ashlyn Traylor-Walker and Joi Williams.

It was a back-and-forth affair for most of the night with both teams trading leads until the Highlanders were able to pull away late. Ashlyn and Williams accounted for 15 of Radford's 18 points in the fourth quarter including a big defensive effort that held Winthrop to zero made floor shots over the final three minutes.

Early on, baskets weren't easy to come by as both teams sought to find their groove. Williams and Ashlyn started the night well for Radford, scoring the team's first four points. Through five and a half minutes, it was all Radford's offense had as the team trailed just 7-4. Ellie Taylor would take things over scoring seven straight points to spark the offense.

After Taylor's seventh straight point put Radford up 11-10, Wagner put the exclamation point on the run with a three that put Radford up 14-10 to finish the opening quarter. Taylor would add two more points from the free throw line before Pa'Shence Traylor-Walker sunk Radford's first three of the game to go up 19-17.

Radford would push their lead to as far as 25-19 thanks to a pair of free throws from Pa'Shence, but the offense would be held to just four points over the final four minutes of the half. A few big free throws by Bria Beverly had Radford owning a 29-25 lead in the defensive battle through 20 minutes.

Winthrop would slowly chip away Radford's lead in the third quarter, using just the free throw line for six points to tie the game at 31-all. Williams' first big three of the second half halted that run, but Winthrop responded with a 7-0 run to go up 38-34 forcing a Radford timeout.

The timeout worked wonders for the Highlanders as the team responded with a resounding 12-0 run over the final three minutes. Taniya Hanner, who had been held scoreless due to foul trouble, checked in for a big layup to spark the run. Williams hit another three and Ashlyn scored the final five points of the quarter to put Radford ahead 46-38, their biggest lead so far.

As was the theme of the game, Winthrop punched back to open the fourth. The Eagles scored four straight points to pull within four of Radford's lead. A free throw from Taylor and a pair of points off an Eagles turnover by Ashlyn stabilized things at 49-42 with 6:22 to go.

All of a sudden, both teams began trading threes within three minutes of the game's final horn as both offenses caught fire. Williams hit the first three and, after a response three from the Eagles, Ashlyn drilled a three to solidify Radford's late lead 55-49. Radford's defense would take over from there, holding the Eagles scoreless from the floor as a Williams and-one with thirty seconds to go was the final dagger to put away the 64-51 final.

NOTABLES
  • Radford has now won their opening tournament game in six of the last seven seasons and is making semifinals visits in back-to-back seasons.
  • In two games at the Qubein Center this season Ashlyn has scored 20+ points in both games. She first dropped 27 points against High Point in the conference opener and dropped another 22 points tonight.
  • Williams has also enjoyed the Panthers' home court, with back-to-back double digit point performances of 14 points in both her game against High Point earlier this season and tonight against Winthrop.
  • As the #3 seed in the conference tournament, the Highlanders now own an 8-2 record. Tonight marked Radford's second tournament victory in High Point, N.C. in seven tries.
  • The Highlanders dominated in points off turnovers (19-9) and fast break points (14-4) thanks to a strong offensive pace against a solid Winthrop defense that led the conference in opponent points per game.
  • Taylor stepped up when the team needed it in multiple critical moments tonight finishing with 14 points (a career-high) and 3 assists.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders will turn their focus to the conference tournament semifinals set for this upcoming Saturday, March 9th. Radford will take on the second-seeded USC Upstate for an approximately 8 p.m. tip time on ESPN+.
 
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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