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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
TaylorNapper
Rob Simmons
78
Gardner-Webb GW 10-17,7-8 Big South
80
Winner Radford Rad 13-15,10-5 Big South
Gardner-Webb GW
10-17,7-8 Big South
78
Final
80
Radford Rad
13-15,10-5 Big South
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Gardner-Webb GW 20 15 19 24 78
Radford Rad 26 13 20 21 80

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Women’s Basketball Upends Gardner-Webb in Dedmon Center Shootout

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's basketball program upended a fierce Gardner-Webb offense Wednesday night to close out the home season with a thrilling 80-78 victory.
 
KEY STATS
  • Taylor Napper's 24 points are a career high for the senior and an individual high for a Highlander this season.
  • Joi Williams also dropped 22 points with another Highlander single game individual high of six three pointers.
  • Radford shot a blistering 50% from three, hitting 11 times from deep.
  • Radford won the rebounding battle 36-28 earning 14 second chance points. Kirah Dandridge led the team with seven rebounds.
  • Radford shot over 50% in the first, third and fourth quarters with a season-high 26 points in the first quarter.
 
PLAY BY PLAY
After a thrilling first edition of Radford vs. Gardner-Webb ended at the buzzer earlier this season, a similar tone was set right away in the Dedmon Center. After a few early baskets from Gardner-Webb, Radford ripped off a 13-0 run to build a 14-5 lead through five minutes of play. The Runnin' Bulldogs responded with a 9-2 run of their own, however, to tighten the game.
 
Nine minutes into the opening quarter still looking for the first media timeout, both teams pushed through to keep the shots falling. When the dust settled, Radford was ahead 26-20 with their best offensive first quarter of the season.
 
An Adriana Shipp-Davis three helped break up a 7-0 run by the Runnin' Bulldogs to start the second quarter. The visitors kept their shots falling through a Radford cold spell to briefly take a 30-29 lead. Some free throws from Cate Carlson pushed Radford back ahead joined by a three from Williams.
 
Radford would hold Gardner-Webb scoreless over the final two minutes of the half, getting makes from Napper and Carlson to lead 39-35. That momentum carried into the second half as Carlson, Kirah Dandridge, Williams and Makayla Firebaugh all hit shots to suddenly push Radford up 49-39 and force a Gardner-Webb timeout.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs refused to back down, storming back with an 11-0 run to go back ahead of Radford 52-51. As they would all night, Radford got its response from Napper and Williams who combined to help put Radford ahead 59-54 at the end of the third quarter.
 
Both teams continued with trading points in the final quarter with neither team ever leading by more than four until the closing seconds. A late and-one by Gardner-Webb threatened Radford's lead putting the Highlanders behind 70-67. Napper and Williams continued to step up, both scoring in the paint to push Radford back up 73-71 with three minutes to play.
 
With under a minute to go, it was Williams who iced the game with a three that put Radford ahead by five. Carlson helped put the game away at the free throw line and when all was said and done it was Radford who came out on top 80-78.
 
AROUND THE BIG SOUTH
  • Longwood held on for the road victory over Winthrop 59-55 to hold onto second place in the conference standings.
  • UNC Asheville earned their first conference win of the season 67-60 over Presbyterian.
  • High Point secured sole possession of the regular season title with a 72-47 win over USC Upstate.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders close out the regular season on the road this upcoming Saturday, March 1st when they visit Charleston Southern for a 2 p.m. tip 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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