RADFORD, Va. -- The Winthrop University women's basketball was bested beyond the arc by the home Radford squad, 61-57, on Saturday afternoon inside Carilion Clinic Court at the Dedmon Center.
Cate Carlson drilled a career-high six three pointers against the Eagles, as the Highlander defense held Winthrop to 1-13 beyond the arc; the one made being the first basket of the game.
Madison Ruff led all scorers, finishing with a career-high 19 points alongside five rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting.
FIRST QUARTER
- Cori Lard opened the scoring with a three at the 9:37 mark as Winthrop jumped out in front early.
- Tocarra Johnson set the tone defensively, blocking a layup and controlling the glass on Radford's opening possessions.
- Winthrop pushed the lead to 8-1 behind Lard's three-point play at 8:39.
- Ryiah Wilson turned defense into offense, converting a steal into a fast-break layup at 4:56.
- Radford answered late in the quarter with baskets in the paint to trim the deficit.
- Madison Ruff finished in transition at the horn as Winthrop carried a 17-12 lead into the second.
SECOND QUARTER
- Radford opened the quarter attacking the rim, pulling within one possession early.
- Ruff continued to pressure the defense, drawing fouls and getting to the line as Winthrop stayed aggressive.
- The Highlanders tied the game at 20-20 on a three at the 6:22 mark.
- The teams traded baskets through the middle of the quarter with neither side gaining separation.
- Radford grabbed its first lead on a corner three at 2:43.
- A late Radford push sent Winthrop into halftime trailing 30-28.
THIRD QUARTER
- Radford opened the half with a putback to extend the lead, but Winthrop answered with defensive stops.
- Ryiah Wilson converted a steal into a fast-break layup at 5:48 to keep the Eagles within striking distance.
- Cori Lard scored on a jumper and later got to the line as Winthrop continued to chip away.
- Radford responded with timely perimeter shooting to maintain a narrow edge.
- Lard trimmed the deficit to three at the stripe at the 2:41 mark.
- Ruff scored through contact at the buzzer and completed the three-point play, pulling Winthrop within 47-45 entering the fourth.
FOURTH QUARTER
- Radford opened the quarter with a three, but Winthrop answered immediately inside.
- Tocarra Johnson finished through contact and added the free throw at 8:38 to cut the margin to two.
- Ruff tied the game at 50-50 with a transition layup at the 7:28 mark.
- Radford regained control with back-to-back threes midway through the quarter.
- Johnson converted off a steal with 1:42 remaining to make it a four-point game late.
- Ruff scored in the final seconds, but Radford closed it out at the line as Winthrop fell 61-57.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Winthrop shot 36.1 percent from the floor and went 12-of-16 at the free-throw line.
- The Eagles were held to one made three-pointer, going 1-for-13 from beyond the arc.
- Winthrop scored 34 points in the paint and finished with ten steals.
- Ruff led the Eagles with 19 points, while Lard added eleven.
- Johnson finished with seven points, eight rebounds, four blocks and three steals.
- Georgia Simonsen and Carlson both finished with 18 points for the Highlanders
- Radford went 9-of-24 from deep
- The Eagles totaled three assists compared to the Highlanders 14
NEXT UP
The Eagles return to Rock Hill to face the Panthers on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.
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