Box Score
RADFORD, VA— Winthrop couldn't overcome a nine-point halftime deficit as it fell 69-47 to Radford, Monday evening at the Dedmon Center in women's basketball action.
With the loss, Winthrop falls to 12-13 overall and 5-7 in the league. Radford improves to 11-14 overall and 8-4 in the conference.
Winthrop fell behind by 11 points in the second half after two free throws by Brooke McElroy, but fought back to cut the lead to 45-38 after a Lacey Lyons triple with 11:31 remaining. Winthrop called timeout after the made three and the defense immediately gave up a wide open three to Ashley Buckhannon from the wing to push the lead back to double-figures with 11:14 to go.
At that point the game ran away from the Lady Eagles as they were outscored 21-9 the rest of the way.
Winthrop continued to turn the ball over in the second half with 10 and couldn't corral the defensive boards. For the game, Radford combined to score 36 points on points off turnovers and second chance points.
The Lady Eagles shot 46 percent in the second half, but the turnovers and offensive boards for Radford played a key role in the game opening up. Radford finished the game shooting 44 percent and won the battle on the boards 35-34 (14 offensive).
Radford used an 8-2 run midway through the first half capped off by back-to-back baskets by Da'Naria Erwin Spencer and Buckhannon. The run put Radford in front 20-17 with 7:45 remaining in the half. Radford led 24-22 after Dequesha McClanahan hit a long jumper in the corner with 3:47 left, but the Highlanders finished the half on a 7-0 run for a 31-22 lead at the break.
Radford shot 44 percent from the floor, 0-for-5 from behind the arc, and took advantage of the Lady Eagles in the paint for 26 points. Winthrop shot 36 percent in the first half, but committed 12 turnovers.
McClanahan paced Winthrop with 12 points on 5-for-11 shooting and dished out four assists. Rubino scored 10 points while TaQuoia Hammick pulled down 13 rebounds to go along with five points and three blocks.
McElroy led all scorers with 18 points for Radford on 7-for-12 shooting. Denay Wood scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds to go along with three assists and three steals.
The game ends a four-game road trip for the Lady Eagles as they will return home for a 4:30 p.m. match-up with High Point on Saturday, Feb. 26 at the Winthrop Coliseum. The game will be televised on Fox College Sports, channel 616 on DirecTV.
