The Radford University women’s basketball team enjoyed a historic Senior Day as the Highlanders captured the 2018-2019 Big South regular season championship with a 55-43 victory over USC Upstate, on Saturday afternoon at the Dedmon Center. The victory extended Radford’s winning streak to 13 games (program-record) and the squad improved to 21-6 (15-1 Big South). The win also means that Radford will have home-court advantage throughout the entire Big South Tournament, which will get underway for the Highlanders on Thursday, March 14 at the Dedmon Center. Radford will host a pair of quarterfinal games that evening.
“Winning a regular season championship is a very difficult thing to do because you have to decide if you are going to be a consistent team or not,” stated Highlander head coach Mike McGuire. “This team has been very consistent. They have had to battle and have faced some adversity. There have been injuries and lineup changes. It’s been a great journey and I think this team has grown up a lot and has persevered. That’s what you have to do if you want to be a champion.
“I’m so happy that we will have an opportunity to host this tournament at Radford,” McGuire added. “Playing here is huge for us as I think there is a certain level of confidence for our team when we play here. We have a lot of belief in how we can play here. It’s a special opportunity that we will have in front of us to try and win the tournament on our floor. We will have to work hard to try and take advantage of it.”
Redshirt-junior forward Lydia Rivers recorded her Big South-leading eleventh double-double of the season as she produced a game-high 16 points and 13 rebounds to lead Radford to the win today. Rivers, who was honored prior to the game, converted 6-of-9 field goal attempts and also had three blocks.
Redshirt-junior center Sidney Nunley produced her tenth double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds in 30 minutes off the bench.
Redshirt-junior forward Savannah Felgemacher was also in double-figures with 13 points along with eight rebounds. Felgemacher added three blocks and three steals, while recording nine points in the third quarter alone.
The Highlanders held the Spartans to 28.8 percent shooting as the visitors connected on just 17-of-59 field goal attempts, including 2-for-22 (9.1 percent) from long-distance.
Radford also struggled from the outside as they were 2-of-21 (9.5 percent) from beyond the arc. However, the Highlanders dominated inside the paint as they outscored USC Upstate by a 41-18 margin on the interior.
USC Upstate (7-20, 3-13 BSC) led 28-27 with 7:27 left in the third quarter after Riley Popplewell hit a jumper. However, the hosts scored the next seven points and never trailed again as they went up by a 34-28 margin at the 3:59 mark. Rivers ignited the burst with an old-fashioned three-point play and senior guard/forward Destinee Walker and Felgemacher followed with buckets.
The visitors closed to within 34-30 with 2:52 left in the quarter, however, Felgemacher scored the final seven points all by herself to spot the Highlanders a 41-30 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Spartans were unable to get within single-figures for the remainder of the contest.
–RU Athletics
