Radford Falls to HPU on the Road

Panthers improve to 34-22 all time against Highlanders

By: Megan Hovey

HIGH POINT, N.C.- It was a road game that the Radford University women’s basketball team will want to forget.

The Highlanders (8-11, 4-4) fell to the High Point University Panthers (8-10, 6-2) 70-62 on Saturday. The loss is Radford’s seventh straight between the two teams.

The loss also snapped the team’s three-game winning streak, previously defeating Winthrop, Charleston Southern and Campbell in Big South Conference play.

Three-time Big South Freshman of the Week Ashlyn Traylor finished with 21 points and nine rebounds, notching her third career 20-point performance. Vanessa Blake posted 15 points and seven rebounds, while Carmen Williams turned in 10 points.

Radford outperformed HPU in points from turnovers (19-17) and fast breaks (22-6). The Highlanders also topped the Panthers in 3-point shooting (.222 to .217) and free throw shooting (.800 to .611). The teams were virtually tied in rebounds (37-36 Radford).

HPU outscored Radford in the paint (40-36), from the bench (14-6) and in second-chance points (13-9).

Traylor and Wagner got off to an early start in the first quarter, with Traylor putting up six points and Wagner posting four. Two 6-0 scoring runs by HPU helped the Panthers pull away, but a pair of 2-pointers from Blake in the second quarter lessened HPU’s lead as the teams went into the locker room at halftime with Radford trailing 35-31.

The second half started off hot with an 8-2 scoring run from the Highlanders, highlighted by Maci Rhoades, who capitalized on a fast break by nailing a 3-pointer to tie the game at 39. A 2-pointer by HPU’s Jenson Edwards less than one minute later brought the score to 41-39. The Panthers then went on a 5-0 scoring run with a 3-pointer from Jordan Edwards and a layup by Nakyah Terrell.

After a Radford timeout, both Traylor and Blake put up layups in the paint, bringing the score to 46-43.

In the fourth quarter, Blake posted two more 2-pointers and Traylor turned in four. But it was too little, too late. Fouls caused by the Highlanders allowed the Panthers to make eight of their 10 free throws in the final minute of play.

Radford heads back on the road to face Longwood on Jan. 25. The Highlanders will host the Panthers on Feb. 22 for the second-to-last game in regular season play.