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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
CateCarlson
Rob Simmons
71
Winner Radford Rad 5-12,2-2 Big South
70
Gardner-Webb GW 5-12,2-3 Big South
Winner
Radford Rad
5-12,2-2 Big South
71
Final
70
Gardner-Webb GW
5-12,2-3 Big South
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Radford Rad 19 11 18 23 71
Gardner-Webb GW 19 16 19 16 70

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Heroic Shots in Closing Minutes Secure Win in Shootout at Gardner-Webb

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Radford women's basketball program was locked in an intense battle with Gardner-Webb Saturday night for the full 40 minutes earning the 71-70 victory thanks to a made layup in the closing seconds by Cate Carlson.
 
KEY STATS
  • Joi Williams stayed hot with another big scoring performance finishing with 19 points and a career-high seven rebounds.
  • Cate Carlson stepped up big in the second half scoring seven of her 12 total points in the contest.
  • Radford's 44 rebounds were a season-high and the most in regulation against a Division I opponent by nine rebounds.
  • With under three minutes to play, Radford got big makes from Adelyn Traylor-Walker, Adriana Shipp-Davis, Williams and finally Carlson each giving Radford a lead in a tied or trailing situation.
  • Radford shot 44% from three hitting 10 or more three pointers in a single game for the fifth time this season.
  • All but one Highlander who checked into the game recorded at least one assist in the game with five different players marking two or more.
 
PLAY BY PLAY
The offensive and quick paced game had its tone set from the start as both teams burst out the gates. Williams started the offense with an early fastbreak layup with Carlson hitting a three making it a 7-10 game with 5:38 left in the first quarter. With under four minutes to go, Radford got back-to-back threes from Williams and Makayla Firebaugh to pull ahead 15-14.
 
Makes from the bigs in the paint, Taylor Napper and Anna Stromberg, continued to pace the offense to its best first quarter this season tied 19-19. A Reniya Jones triple pushed Radford back ahead 22-19, but Gardner-Webb fired right back with a 4-0 run. Napper stopped that run with a tough and-one to retake the lead.
 
With four minutes left in the half, Williams checked back in with a three-pointer that pushed Radford ahead at 28-26. Second chance points from Carlson put Radford ahead further, but a 7-0 run to close the half by the Runnin' Bulldogs gave them a 35-30 advantage halfway home.
 
A three-pointer by Gardner-Webb extended the run to 10-0 for a big lead, but Radford wouldn't back down. Makes from Williams and Firebaugh helped settle the offense and pull the game back within reach. The two squads would trade baskets with neither taking a decisive run before the third quarter ended with the score at 54-48 in Gardner-Webb's favor.
 
The fourth quarter belonged to Radford as the Highlanders were able to retake the lead behind an incredible 14-2 run through the first five minutes. Now up 62-56 with 4:46 left in the final frame, Gardner-Webb responded with a 7-0 run of their own to go back up 63-62.
 
The redshirt freshman Traylor-Walker would make the first of many big shots for Radford, hitting a driving layup and converting an and-one with 2:37 to go putting Radford up 65-63. A second chance layup by Shipp-Davis right behind her helped give Radford another lead at 67-65.
 
A three by Gardner-Webb would bounce the lead back their way, but with 39 seconds to go Williams had the perfect touch off the glass to put Radford up 69-68. Once again, Gardner-Webb responded to go up 70-69 but it was Radford who would own the final full possession. With no timeouts and having to inbound the ball with 10 seconds to go, Carlson went to work and nailed the eventual game-winner with just five seconds on the clock.
 
Gardner-Webb would call their final timeouts to advance the ball down the court, but their final shot was deflected by Napper allowing Radford to hold on for the thrilling 71-70 victory.
 
AROUND THE BIG SOUTH
  • USC Upstate picked up their first conference win of the season downing UNC Asheville 60-57.
  • Longwood remained unbeaten in conference play with a road win over High Point 72-68.
  • Charleston Southern earned a dominant home win over Winthrop 78-50.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return home for another Big South test as the team hosts Charleston Southern for a 2 p.m. tip inside the Dedmon Center on ESPN+.
 
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.
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