RADFORD, VA – Battling tough, snowy playing conditions, the Winthrop lacrosse team used a 7-0 second-half run to down Radford 12-9 Saturday, avoiding a big upset at the hands of the Highlanders.

With the victory, the Eagles won their ninth straight contest, improving to 10-3 overall and 3-0 in the Big South.  Radford fell to 4-8 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Radford jumped on the Eagles early in the first half, scoring three goals in the first 5:30 of the contest.  Bianca Tedesco got Winthrop on the board with 20:56 on the clock.  The two sides traded four goals and Radford continued to lead by two with 7:48 left before the half.

Katherine Judge helped the Eagles rally late in the first half as she scored two of her three first-half goals in the last 7:07 of the period.  Winthrop headed into the halftime break down 5-4.

The Highlanders got another quick start, scoring only 32 seconds into the second half.  Judge scored her fourth straight goal for the Eagles to pull them back within one.  Radford responded with two more goals to go up 8-5 with 20 minutes remaining.

McKenna Blick started Winthrop's 7-0 run with 19:07 on the clock.  Nicole Beatson scored back-to-back free-position goals in only 28 seconds to tie the game at 8-8.  Katie Clark gave the Eagles their first lead of the game at 9-8 with 14 minutes left. 

The game went scoreless over the next eight minutes after Winthrop took the lead until Clark gave Winthrop a two-goal cushion.  The Eagles got insurance goals from Beatson and Tedesco, going up 12-8 with 3:39 on the clock.  Radford grabbed one goal back with 2:28 remaining but couldn't score any more.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Judge led the team with four goals while Tedesco also recorded four points on two goals and two assists.  Beatson finished with three goals and Kristen Shriver tallied three assists.  Goalie Alaina Girani finished with 12 saves including nine in the first half. 

Radford outshot the Eagles 18-11 in the first half while Winthrop dominated the second half, outshooting the Highlanders 22-11.  Radford won the ground ball battle 23-20 and the draw circle 15-8.  Winthrop struggled from the eight-meter, converting only four of 14 free-position attempts.

WHAT'S UP NEXT
Winthrop will return home for its next Big South contest as the Eagles host Campbell Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m.