Women's Basketball 2/20/2026 10:30:00 AM

Women’s Basketball Begins Final Push Before Big South Tourney at Charleston Southern

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford women's basketball team begins their final three-game stretch of the regular season on Saturday with a trip to Charleston Southern. The Highlanders are in a tight race for the second seed in the 2026 Air Force Reserve Big South Tournament, currently tied with Longwood and a game ahead of Gardner-Webb in the conference standings.

SETTING THE STAGE
Opponent: Charleston Southern Buccaneers (8-18, 6-7 BSC)
Date/Time: Saturday, February 21st at 1:00 p.m.
Location: Buccaneer Fieldhouse, Charleston, 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's late rally came up short in a 57-52 loss to USC Upstate on Wednesday night at the Dedmon Center. The Spartans led by 11 at halftime, and despite a 14-5 run to close the game, managed to hold off the Highlanders. Radford was held to a 24.6 percent shooting percentage and just six made three-pointers in the game. USC Upstate also dominated the boards, outrebounding Radford 52-33. Joi Williams led the Highlanders with 18 points, but with only five players reaching the scoring column, it was not enough.

In the Details: Last Wednesday's loss puts the Highlanders to 9-4 in Big South play…10-7 when coming off a win…1-9 when trailing at half…6-11 when shooting less than 40 percent…3-7 when opponent shoots 40 percent or higher…4-10 when opponent outrebounds Radford…12-2 when having more free throw attempts…11-6 when making more three-pointers…10-6 when winning turnover battle…13-2 when controlling points in the paint…2-8 when scoring less than 60 points…12-2 when holding opponent to under 60 points.

A Look Back: The Highlanders are trying to avenge a loss to Charleston Southern, which occurred back on January 3 in Radford. The Buccaneers scored 29 points in the fourth quarter, which included making six three-pointers, to pull off a stunning comeback, 63-59. The Highlanders are looking for their first win in the Buc Dome since January 14, 2023 (W 69-46), having dropped the trip to Chucktown each of the last two seasons. Radford controls the series 62-22 which dates to 1987. Charleston Southern is going for their first regular-season sweep of Radford since the 2009-10 season.

Rising and Defending: Despite the loss, Radford held their opponents to under 60 points for the third-straight game and fourth consecutive at the Dedmon Center. Counting only conference games, the Highlanders hold the best points allowed per game in the Big South at 55.7. They also rank among conference leaders in opponent field goal percentage (2^nd, .358), and blocked shots per conference game (2^nd, 3.38).

The Countdown Begins: Joi Williams tallied 18 points in the loss on Wednesday, bringing her career scoring total to 963. She will need to average over 12.3 points a game for the rest of the season to reach 1,000 career points before the end of the regular season. The preseason All-Big South First Team member is averaging 13.5 points a game (7^th in Big South). Her 166 made three-pointers in her career is the fourth-most by a Highlander, with Patrinda Toney (1987-92) sitting at 180 made in third place. Radford's last 1,000 career points scorer was Khiana Johnson, who donned the Highlander red and white from 2016-20.

Simonsen Says: Georgia Simonsen was held to just four points on Wednesday, ending a seven-game streak of scoring in double figures. The freshman leads the conference with 34 blocks (1.2 bpg) and ranks 10^th in rebounds (6.4 rpg). The Fairfax native has been named Big South Freshman of the Week six times throughout the season, including three consecutive from January 26-February 9.

Buccaneer Bites: Charleston Southern enters Saturday coming off a mid-week night off, having played and lost to High Point, 64-48, back on February 14. Tyonna Bailey has been performance well, having recorded her third-straight double-double last Saturday with 12 points and 10 rebounds against the Panthers. The junior guard from Newark, N.J., has scored in double figures in every conference game, including adding 19 in the win at Radford back in January. Currently in fifth place in the Big South, the Buccaneers can mathematically move up to as high as the two seed and as low as the eight seed in the Big South Tournament entering the final three gamedays of the regular 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

#4 Joi Williams: G; 5' 6"; Junior

#23 Georgia Simonsen: F; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#4 Joi Williams
: 5' 6"; Junior
: G

#23 Georgia Simonsen
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: F

Radford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

#4 Joi Williams

#23 Georgia Simonsen

Players Mentioned

#4 Joi Williams

#23 Georgia Simonsen