RADFORD, VA – Courtney Hagaman scored a season-high 25 points Tuesday but the Winthrop women's basketball team dropped its conference opener, falling on the road 78-52 to the Radford Highlanders.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Winthrop (1-11, 0-1) played a strong opening quarter.  The Eagles trailed 4-3 before the Highlanders (8-4, 1-0) rattled off five straight points to take a 9-3 edge with 7:06 left in the first quarter.  The two sides traded buckets the remainder of the period and Radford held a 17-8 lead after 10 minutes.

The Eagles opened the second quarter by cutting the deficit down to four before Radford went on a big 19-4 run to take a 36-16 lead with just under two minutes left before halftime.  The Highlanders took a 38-18 lead into the break.

In the third quarter, Winthrop was able to cut the deficit as low as 12 but couldn't get any closer.  The Highlanders held an 18-point lead after the third quarter and quickly regained a 20-point cushion early in the fourth.  Radford went on for the 78-52 victory. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Junior Courtney Hagaman led all scorers and was the only Eagle in double figures with 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor and 4-of-8 shooting from three-point range.  Emily Kelley was second on the team with nine points.  Ronata Rogers led the team with nine rebounds.

The Eagles shot 30 percent from the floor on 18-of-60 shooting and hit seven of 19 three-point attempts.  The Highlanders outrebounded the Eagles 55-34.

WHAT'S UP NEXT

The Eagles will return home for the first time since Dec. 9 on Saturday for their conference home opener against the Campbell Camels.  Opening tip is set for 2 p.m. at the Winthrop Coliseum.