Rock Hill, S.C. – Amourie Porter's double double led Winthrop from 17 points down in the second half to defeat Radford in the Big South home opener Saturday afternoon.
Winthrop (8-7, 2-0 Big South) | Radford (3-12, 0-2 Big South)
Jan. 4, 2025 | Winthrop Coliseum
Winthrop 65, Radford 58
How it Happened
First Quarter | Radford led 7-1 five minutes into the contest.
Ronaltha Marc tacked on the first field goal made for the Eagles on a pull-up jumper at the 4:42 mark, making the score 7-3 in favor of the visitors. The Highlanders then responded with nine of the next 11 points to maintain their initial six-point edge as they led 16-10 inside of a minute.
Olivia Wagner drilled a three-pointer with 16 seconds left to leave Winthrop down 16-13 at the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter | The Highlanders began the second quarter with a three-pointer and two free throws to go up 21-13 at the 8:18 mark. Winthrop responded with seven quick points to cut it to one in a span of a minute and a half but Radford went on an 18-6 run to go up 13 at 39-26 with a minute remaining. The Eagles would go on to trail 39-28 at the half.
Third Quarter | Radford scored the first six points of the second half to increase their margin to 17 at 45-28 at the 8:21 mark. After five made free throws by the Eagles cut it to 12 with 5:51 to go, the Highlanders scored five quick points of their own to go back up 17 a few seconds later. But then an 15-0 run by Winthrop cut the score to 50-48 at the end of three.
Fourth Quarter | After a free throw by Radford, the Eagles scored six of the next eight points to forge ahead by one at 54-53 with exactly six minutes left after a layup by Porter. Radford regained the lead after two free throws at the 4:26 mark only for Porter to hit two free throws of her own to put Winthrop back out in front a few seconds later. Porter and Wagner then hit two clutch jumpers, putting the Eagles ahead by five at 60-55 with two minutes remaining. The Highlanders answered with a three-pointer coming out of a timeout and then two possessions missed a shot from deep that would have put them ahead with 21 seconds left. Porter was fouled intentionally with 19 seconds left. She made one of two free throws for a three-point lead and because the foul was intentional, the Eagles got to keep possession of the ball. Wagner was then fouled with 10 seconds left and she drained both free throws to put the game on ice.
Statistical Standouts (Team)
- Winthrop moves to 620-914 all-time as a program
- Winthrop moves to 355-328 all-time at home
- Winthrop moves to 214-375 all-time in Big South games
- Paisana is currently seventh in school history in career triples made (111)
- Paisana is also three assists away from moving into a tie for 10th in school history in assists (currently has 299)
- This is the first time since the 2019-20 season that the Eagles have won their first two conference games
- Marc had a career-high in assists with five
- Porter had career-highs in points with 25 and rebounds with 12
- This was a double double (her second on the season)
- Winthrop shot 85% from the free throw line, including 90% in the third quarter
- Eagles outrebounded the Highlanders, 37-26
- As part of the comeback, Winthrop held Radford to 15% from the field and 14% from deep, both in the fourth quarter
Statistical Standouts (Individual)
Amourie Porter (35 min, 8-14 FG, 9-12 FT, 12 rebounds, 25 points)
Up Next
Winthrop continues Big South play by welcoming Gardner-Webb's Runnin' Bulldogs to town on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 6:00 p.m.
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