Williams Drops 21 Points as Radford Outlasts USC Upstate for First Big South Win

Saturday, January 11

Radford, Va.

2:00 PM

Radford University

4-12,1-2Big South

USC Upstate

3-13,0-3Big South

Team	1	2	3	4	F
USC Upstate	4	20	15	17	56
Radford	11	18	18	17	64

Photo by: Rob Simmons

Williams Drops 21 Points as Radford Outlasts USC Upstate for First Big South Win

1/11/2025 5:01:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's basketball program dug deep behind Joi Williams' 21 points for a physical win Saturday afternoon 64-56 over USC Upstate.

KEY STATS

For a third straight conference game, Williams scored in double figures finishing with 21 points, her first 20-point performance against a Big South opponent.
Radford hit 10 threes as a team with six different Highlanders making a shot from beyond the arc.
Radford's 12 turnovers were a season-low against a Division I opponent.
Makayla Firebaugh and Kirah Dandridge each tied for the team-high in assists with four apiece.
After shooting 27% in the first quarter, the Highlanders shot over 40% in each of the remaining three quarters.

PLAY BY PLAY
The Highlanders opened Saturday's physical contest with a great defensive effort through the opening ten minutes. While the offense looked to find its step, the defense held USC Upstate scoreless through the opening seven minutes. With just a 4-0 lead, Radford ignited from deep with threes from Williams and Cate Carlson to hold an 11-4 lead after one quarter.

Firebaugh opened the second quarter with a three to go up 14-4. Reniya Jones, Carlson, and Williams all paced the offense with four more makes from three-point range which kept Radford pacing ahead at 26-18. However, a quick run to end the half by USC Upstate would cut Radford's lead to just 29-24.

Williams continued to fire and lead Radford's offense out of the halftime break with another three while Carlson added four straight points to push ahead 36-28. The Spartans would not go away quietly, finding a run to keep things tight once again. Five straight points to close the quarter by Adelyn Traylor-Walker helped ensure a 47-39 Radford lead entering the final frame.

Radford's offense would continue the solid pace as Adriana Shipp-Davis and Taylor Napper earned some tough makes in the paint. Keeping the Spartans at arm's length, Williams came up with some huge steals late that set up scores pushing Radford up by as much as 61-49.

USC Upstate would send multiple Highlanders to the free throw line, but Radford was able to close things out and hold on for the eventual 64-56 win.

AROUND THE BIG SOUTH

Gardner-Webb handed High Point its first conference loss with a 64-52 final in Boiling Springs, N.C.
Presbyterian earned their second straight conference win in a tight 60-56 finish at UNC Asheville.
Longwood hosts Winthrop to cap Saturday's action in a 6 p.m. tip.

UP NEXT
The Highlanders go on the road for their next conference match-up. Radford visits Gardner-Webb for a 7 p.m. tilt on ESPN+.

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