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Women's Basketball

Women’s Basketball Eyes Road Test at Winthrop

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's basketball team (10-9, 2-2 BSC) will try and replicate their mid-week win on Saturday, as they face Big South foe Winthrop on Saturday afternoon in South Carolina.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
Opponent: Winthrop Eagles (10-9, 3-2 BSC)
Date/Time: Saturday, January 17th at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Winthrop Coliseum, Rock Hill, S.C.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Listen to All Games Live on WRAD AM 1460
Watch on ESPN+
Follow Live Stats Here
 
KEY STORYLINES
Last Time Out: Radford needed and got a 53-38 win over Gardner-Webb on Wednesday. Junior guard Joi Williams led the attack, totaling 21 points with five three-pointers for the Highlanders' second conference win. They held the Runnin' Bulldogs to just 38 points on just 28.1 percent shooting and 12.5 percent from behind the arc (2-16). Radford dominated the glass, grabbing 41 rebounds to Gardner-Webb's 30.
 
In the Details: The victory improved the Highlanders to 2-2 in Big South play…7-2 at the Dedmon Center…6-3 coming off a loss…3-0 in games decided by 11-20 points …8-2 when leading at half…8-1 when outshooting their opponent…7-0 when outrebounding their opponent…10-4 when scoring 50+ points…4-0 when holding their opponents under 50 points…2-6 when opponent controls points in the paint.
 
A Look Back: Radford has played Winthrop more than any other women's basketball program, with Saturday's game being the 92nd meeting. The Highlanders control the all-time series 69-22, but the Eagles won both games last season (65-58 in Rock Hill on January 4 and 78-68 n Radford on February 12). Radford's last win against Winthrop came in the 2024 Big South Tournament quarterfinals, a 64-51 triumph.
 
A Joi(ous) Occasion: Joi Williams was back to her normal self after scoring 21 points against Gardner-Webb on Wednesday. She is the lone Highlander to average over 10+ points a game (12.4). The junior is currently fifth on the Radford all-time 3-pt field goals made list with 141 made. She trails fourth place Ashley Buckhannon (2009-13) by 17 field goals. Williams also has 820 career points, 180 short of reaching 1,000 career points. Radford is 5-2 when Williams makes at least three trifectas.
 
Georgia on my Mind: Georgia Simonsen's streak of reaching double figures ended after finishing with seven points on Wednesday. She was the first freshman since Ashlyn Traylor-Walker in 2022 to have double figures in five-straight games. The Fairfax, Va. native averaging just under nine points a game with 6.1 rebounds per game.
 
Defending the Highlands: Radford has held two Big South opponents to under 40 points in each of their conference wins. They boast the second-best Big South defense in conference play, holding opponents to just 52.8 points per game (High Point leads the league with 48). Radford also ranks second in the conference in opponent field goal percentage (33.8%).
 
Scouting Winthrop: The Eagles allowed 100 points for the third time this season and the first by a non-ranked SEC opponent in their 100-79 defeat at Longwood on Wednesday. They've yet to have a bye in conference play, having three Big South wins at UNC Asheville (59-55 on Jan. 3), USC Upstate (66-64 on Jan. 7), and vs. Charleston Southern (63-54 on Jan. 10). Winthrop opened Big South play with a loss to Gardner-Webb, 54-48, on New Year's Eve. The Eagles have the third-best offense in the Big South (65.7 ppg) but also have the third-worst defense (68.2 ppg). They tend to shoot high percentage shots (40% field goal percentage) but struggle from behind the arc (27.9%). The Eagles are led offensively by junior Amourie Porter, who's 15.7 points per game is the fourth-best in the conference and is having another great season after being named first team all-conference last season.
 
FOLLOW RADFORD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
To follow the Radford women's basketball team throughout the season, visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @Radford_WBB on X, 'radford_wbb' Instagram or Radford Women's Basketball on Facebook.
 
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Players Mentioned

Joi Williams

#4 Joi Williams

G
5' 6"
Junior
Georgia Simonsen

#23 Georgia Simonsen

F
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Joi Williams

#4 Joi Williams

5' 6"
Junior
G
Georgia Simonsen

#23 Georgia Simonsen

6' 1"
Freshman
F