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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Joi12425
Ethan Neal
84
Navy Navy 5-3,0-0 Patriot
97
Winner Radford Rad 6-5,0-0 Big South
Navy Navy
5-3,0-0 Patriot
84
Final
97
Radford Rad
6-5,0-0 Big South
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 OT 1 OT 2 F
Navy Navy 15 20 22 10 11 6 84
Radford Rad 10 13 22 22 11 19 97

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Women’s Basketball Erases 17-Point Deficit, Takes Down Navy in Double OT

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's basketball team (6-5) mounted a miraculous comeback, led by Joi Williams' breakout 36-point performance, to defeat Navy (5-3), 97-84, in double overtime at the Dedmon Center on Thursday night.

KEY STATS
  • Joi Williams scored 36 points, the most in a single-game by a Radford women's basketball player since Shannah Wilkey scored 36 vs. UNC Greensboro on February 20, 1994. The 36 points is also tied for the fifth-most in program history.
  • Radford outscored Navy 22-10 in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
  • The Highlanders missed just one free throw on the night, finishing 15-for-16 (93.8%).
  • Radford shot 58.6% (17-for-29) from the field after the third quarter.
PLAY BY PLAY
What turned out to be Radford's night began as a slow start out of the gates. Things were tied at the first media timeout, but Navy hit back-to-back threes out of the break to gallop ahead 15-10 after one quarter. The Midshipmen continued a 13-3 run to go ahead 20-10 and forced Head Coach Mike McGuire to take a timeout early in the second quarter. Though the Highlanders got going offensively, Navy held a 35-23 advantage at halftime.

Navy kept hitting from behind the arc to start the third quarter, quashing any chance for Radford to get back into it. A three-point play by the visitors gave them a 43-26 lead at the 7:08 mark of the third quarter, their largest lead. That's when Radford began to get hot from the floor. Several makes by Williams and a layup by Georgia Simonsen made it a 10-point game before the end of the quarter. After a mini-run by Navy, Williams hit again to make a 12-point game heading to the fourth.

The Highlanders' defense was nearly unstoppable in the fourth quarter, holding Navy to just two made shots through the first six minutes of the quarter. Meanwhile, the hosts kept hitting threes, with Kirah Dandridge making it a nine-point game, and Williams following to cut the deficit to 59-55. Williams again came up clutch a few moments later, draining a shot from behind the arc and turning it into a one-point game with 3:02 left for her 29th point. A moment later, it was Cate Carlson's turn to come up clutch, sinking a three from the left wing to tie it at 65-65 with just over a minute left. Radford came away with a big stop defensively, which led to Anna Stromberg hit a short jumper from just outside the paint to make it 67-65 Highlanders. Though Radford had what seemed like a stop after playing strong defense for over 25 seconds, Navy's Kate Sampson hit a short runner at the horn to force overtime, 67-67.

The Midshipmen scored on their first three trips of overtime to jump ahead by three. After two-straight jumpers, Navy held a 78-73 lead with 1:16 left. When the Highlanders needed a basket, Angelina Nice hit a tough shot in the paint to keep it a three-point game. Radford got a stop and set up a chance to tie in the closing seconds. With Williams being guarded closely, the junior chucked up a tough three-pointer from the right wing and sunk her sixth trifecta of the night to tie it and eventually force a second overtime.

It was all Radford in the second overtime. Carlson started it off with a layup on the first trip, and Williams sunk a pair of free throws after a Navy flagrant foul. The Midshipmen were able to get back within two, but two made free throws by Simonsen, followed by two more by Carlson, made it a six-point game with 1:43 remaining. Carlson, with ice in her veins, sank what proved to be a dagger three to make it 91-84 just under a minute left. Navy failed to get any clean looks, and the Highlanders made all of their free throws the rest of the way for the 97-84 win.

McGUIRE QUOTABLE
"What a game," said McGuire to begin the press conference. "This is my 13th year here, and this has got to be one of the top games I've been a part of at the Dedmon Center. Probably outside of our (Big South) championship game in 2019. Just the heart that both teams played with. The will to win that was demonstrated tonight was awesome. For our ladies to stay in the game. They just stayed the course. I think we got down 17. For us to battle back from that and find a way to win is just incredible. A very hard-fought game. Our ladies deserved to win this game. But credit to Navy. Navy is an outstanding basketball team. I'd be shocked if they're not competing for a championship in the Patriot League. They're phenomenal. Their guards can really play. Great win tonight. Obviously, Joi's (Williams) performance was incredible. I've coached a lot of games. I'm not sure I've seen a guard play the way she did the second half of the game and into overtime. So, fun to watch."

UP NEXT
The Highlanders take a break from action to focus on finals week before their next contest. They'll welcome the Ohio Bobcats to the New River Valley on Saturday, December 13th for a 3:00 p.m. tipoff. Catch the action 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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