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Radford Athletics Communications
59
Radford Rad 5-5,0-0 Big South
62
Winner Cleveland St. CSU 7-1,0-0 Horizon
Radford Rad
5-5,0-0 Big South
59
Final
62
Cleveland St. CSU
7-1,0-0 Horizon
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 OT 1 F
Radford Rad 9 9 19 15 7 59
Cleveland St. CSU 8 12 15 17 10 62

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Radford Drops Heartbreaker to Cleveland State in Overtime

CLEVELAND – The Radford women's basketball team (5-5) did everything but pull off the upset, falling to Cleveland State (7-1), 62-59, in overtime at the Woodling Gymnasium on Saturday.

KEY STATS
  • The Highlanders forced 16 turnovers and held Cleveland State to just 5-22 from behind the arc. Radford converted those turnovers into 22 points, getting plenty of fast break opportunities.
  • Three Highlanders reached double-figures, with Angelina Nice leading the attack with 13 points.
  • Radford had six blocked shots, including a pair by Anna Stromberg and Georgia Simonsen.
PLAY BY PLAY
Neither team could buy a basket to start, with the score being 2-2 through much of the opening quarter. What seemed like a burst of offense came on Joi Williams' three-pointer that gave Radford their first lead at 7-6 with 1:46 left in the first. Georgia Simonsen also went a perfect 4-4 from the charity stripe, and the Highlanders led by one after holding Cleveland State to a 20% shooting clip (3-15) through 10 minutes.

The Vikings began forcing turnovers in the backcourt to edge ahead 15-14 midway through the second. Another Stromberg bucket put the Highlanders briefly back ahead a 7-0 run gave the Vikings their largest lead at 20-14. Two layups in the final minute by Kirah Dandridge and Amanda Mitchell put Radford back within two at the break, 20-18.

It felt like the lid had come off the basket in the third quarter, as multiple three-pointers fell for the Highlanders. Dandridge nailed a triple to give the Highlanders a brief lead, and Nice answered a Cleveland State trifecta with one of her own. Radford had their largest advantage at 33-27 after Williams got a friendly bounce on a 25-foot three from the top of the arc. Cleveland State would keep things close, as the game went to the fourth 37-35 in favor of Radford.

The fourth quarter was a heavyweight fight, with blows being landed by each side consistently. The Highlanders went ahead 42-40 after another Nice three, but a quick 5-0 run by Cleveland State put the hosts back on top midway through the fourth. Radford then got a couple back from some Cate Carlson free throws and a short jumper by Williams. Down the stretch, Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year Colbi Maples hit several well-defended layups that then gave the Vikings a two-point cushion with just over a minute and a half remaining. A three-point play by Anaiah Jenkins gave Radford a 51-50 lead with 1:31 left. The Highlanders managed to get a couple of stops, but Jenkins hit only one of two free throws with 29 seconds left to lead by two. Maples then responded with a short jumper that tied the game at 52-52. Carlson took a deep three out of an inbound play with two seconds left, but it clanked off the front of the rim to force overtime.

Carlson began the overtime with a bucket off the glass, but the Vikings responded with two free throws to go. Another score by Carlson made it 56-54 Radford, but Maples hit a three that would give the Vikings the lead for good. A Dandridge steal down five with 40 seconds left kept Radford's hopes alive after her layup, but it would be too little too late. Radford did get a chance to tie with .6 seconds left down three, but Williams' prayer fell short for a 62-59 loss.

McGUIRE QUOTABLE
"I think today was a great college basketball game," said Head Coach Mike McGuire. "I thought there was great intensity by both teams. We hate to lose. The focus on the game plan was there. The intensity was there. Just the will to win was there. If we continue to prep like this and compete like this, I think we will prepare ourselves well for Big South Conference play. It's a very difficult loss. I thought we did enough to win the game. We'll make this more common and make our day-to-day like this game today. I think we'll have a lot of growth and an exciting season."

UP NEXT
The Highlanders head back to Radford, where they'll host Navy on Thursday, December 4th at 6:00 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, while you can also listen to all Radford women's basketball games on WRAD 1460 AM.

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.
#RadfordTough | #RiseAndDefend
 
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