The Radford Highlanders women’s basketball team ended their run in the Big South Championship with a narrow 71-67 loss to top-seeded High Point at Freedom Hall Civic Center on Sunday night. Despite a strong effort, the Highlanders could not secure a win in the final moments of the game.
Joi Williams led Radford with her third 30-point game of the season and scored a total of 76 points over three tournament games, earning all-tournament team honors alongside Georgia Simonsen. The Highlanders dominated the rebounding battle, collecting 42 rebounds compared to High Point’s 33, including 15 offensive boards. They also forced more turnovers than their opponents, winning that battle 15-13.
Radford managed to limit Macy Spencer, the Big South Player of the Year, to just six points. Ellie Taylor played a key role in this defensive effort.
High Point started strong with an early lead, but Radford responded with a 10-0 run in the first quarter. The teams traded leads throughout the first half, with Radford holding a slim advantage before halftime. A late three-pointer by High Point cut Radford’s lead to three at the break.
The third quarter proved pivotal as High Point went on an 18-2 run and built an 11-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Radford fought back behind Williams’ scoring and tied the game late in the fourth quarter but was unable to convert opportunities in the final seconds.
Head Coach Mike McGuire said after the game: “I thought tonight was a great championship game. I thought it only came down to the last couple of minutes. Just a couple of possessions short. Ultimately, it was probably the third quarter that was the difference. Super proud of our ladies. How they represented our institution. How they competed for the Big South this year. This is one of the best team’s in program history and we’re very proud of them.”
With High Point securing both regular season and tournament titles, Radford is expected to receive an automatic bid to the WNIT Tournament as one of the top teams in their conference. The WNIT Selection Show will take place on Sunday, March 15, followed by bracket announcements on Monday and first-round games beginning Thursday, March 19.
Fans can follow updates about Radford women’s basketball through their official social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.
