SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Radford women’s basketball mounted a late comeback in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s contest at USC Upstate, but it wouldn’t be enough as the team fell 55-49.
It was a cold shooting night for the Highlanders as the team was only able to get a handful of three-pointers to fall, all in the fourth quarter comeback effort. Radford trailed 45-30 two minutes into the fourth quarter still looking for offensive answers. Over the final seven minutes, the offense finally found its groove and went to work.
Ashlyn Traylor, contributing to another impressive scoring night, got the comeback started with a layup and after a scoreless four minutes Ashley Panem netted Radford’s first three-pointer of the night to make it just a 45-35 deficit with three and a half minutes to go. Traylor and Vanessa Blake both sunk a duo of layups as well to make it just 39-46.
Carmen Williams got a much-needed basket after Blake’s make and Traylor continued to fire off with a huge and-one opportunity to make it 43-48. After a costly turnover by USC Upstate Radford was suddenly in the driver’s seat. The Highlanders couldn’t get the shot to fall, however, and so it turned into a free-throw game over the final minute.
Tatiana Beaumont and Panem would hit another pair of three-pointers, but the Highlanders fate was sealed in the 55-49 defeat. Just a 4-24 mark from deep plagued the Highlanders in the meeting despite still managing to shoot 38% overall in the contest. Radford’s defense did a good job at containing the Spartans and forcing 20 turnovers with 12 steals led by Williams who finished the night with four.
BEAT GOES ON FOR TRAYLOR
The freshman Traylor had another great scoring night for the Highlanders, battling foul trouble to still put up 18 points. Traylor has already totaled 47 points in conference play this season and is showing no signs of slowing down.
UP NEXT
The Highlanders are back home after a week of Big South games on the road with a huge test in front of the Highlander faithful. Radford welcomes Gardner-Webb for a pivotal conference match-up at 2 p.m. this Saturday, January 7th also streaming on ESPN+.
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