Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
JoiWilliams
Rob Simmons
65
Winner Radford Rad 9-13,6-3 Big South
59
USC Upstate USCU 5-17,2-7 Big South
Winner
Radford Rad
9-13,6-3 Big South
65
Final
59
USC Upstate USCU
5-17,2-7 Big South
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 OT 1 F
Radford Rad 16 11 12 16 10 65
USC Upstate USCU 10 17 17 11 4 59

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Late Comeback Seals Victory for Women’s Basketball in Overtime at USC Upstate

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Radford women's basketball program used an incredible fourth quarter and overtime effort to prevail over the hosts USC Upstate Saturday afternoon in a 65-59 victory.
 
KEY STATS
  • After scoring just 2 points in the first half, Williams came alive in the second half for 17 points finishing with a team-best 19.
  • The overtime win is the first for Radford this season in three tries, all three extended games coming away from home.
  • Traylor-Walker's seven points all also came in the second half, four of which were scored in the overtime period.
  • Radford's defense forced 24 turnovers in the contest, converting into 10 steals and 28 points off turnovers.
  • Radford would turn the ball over 14 times in the game, but only two of those resulted in steals for USC Upstate.
 
PLAY BY PLAY
Despite a defensive struggle of the first half, it was Radford who got off to a hot start with the first eight points of the game. Carlson played a large role in that, hitting a pair of three pointers that put Radford ahead 8-0. Radford would end the first quarter with a similar run as Adriana Shipp-Davis and Makayla Firebaugh connected on threes to put Radford up 16-10.
 
Radford would be held scoreless over the first four minutes of the second quarter as USC Upstate pulled the game back into a tie. A three by Carlson would put Radford back ahead, but the Highlanders offense wasn't able to connect much more after that. Thanks to a three by Kirah Dandridge in the closing seconds, the Highlanders would be tied with the Spartans 27-all at halftime.
 
Another scoreless drought would afflict the Highlanders to start the second half, but Adelyn Traylor-Walker hit a three to break the ice as Radford trailed just 32-30. Joi Williams would also come alive for six points as Radford tried to claw back into the game.
 
USC Upstate would score six of the last nine points of the quarter as a Williams three broke up the run but still saw Radford down 44-39. Needing a big comeback, Radford would dig deep for the fourth quarter. A pair of makes to open the fourth pushed USC Upstate to its biggest lead at 48-39, but Radford found its response.
 
Carlson would start the rally while Firebaugh and Williams would hit back-to-back threes to make it just a one-point game. Carlson would tie the game with a free throw at 48-all can cap Radford's 9-0 run to make it a brand-new game. Shipp-Davis would hit a three in response to a three by the Spartans and it was Williams who put Radford ahead 53-51. Carlson would get another huge make late, but the Spartans were able to tie the game at 55-55.
 
Radford's final shot of the second half would come up short, bringing on overtime for the third time this season. A free throw by Traylor-Walker gave Radford a slim 56-55 edge, but Williams pushed it further with a clutch jumper from the free throw line.
 
After USC Upstate responded with a make, Williams was right there to put Radford back up three at 60-57. The redshirt freshman Traylor-Walker had the shot that iced the game as she beat the shot clock with a banked-in three-pointer that put Radford ahead for good. After hitting some free throws, the Highlanders pulled out the 65-59 overtime road win.
 
AROUND THE BIG SOUTH
  • Gardner-Webb earned a hard-fought home court win over Winthrop 66-54.
  • Charleston Southern won a defensive battle at Longwood 55-50.
  • High Point and Presbyterian will cap Saturday's Big South action at 7 p.m.
 
UP NEXT
Radford will stick to the road for their next conference contest when they visit High Point on Wednesday, February 5th. Action is set to begin at 7 p.m. 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.
Print Friendly Version