The Radford Highlanders women’s basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the Big South Tournament after defeating Charleston Southern 86-67 in the quarterfinals at Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City, Tennessee. The win was highlighted by a record-tying first half, where Radford scored 54 points, matching the tournament’s single-half scoring record previously set by UNC Asheville in 2006 and Coastal Carolina in 2014.
Joi Williams led all scorers with 31 points, marking the highest individual total for a Highlander in the Big South Tournament since Patrinda Toney scored 33 points in the 1992 finals. Williams and teammate Georgia Simonsen, who added 20 points, became the first Radford duo to each score more than 20 points in a tournament game since Lydia Rivers and Destinee Walker achieved the feat in 2019.
Radford’s total of 86 points and their margin of victory were both program bests under Head Coach Mike McGuire. The previous high for points was set during an overtime loss to Campbell in last year’s semifinals, while their largest margin of victory before this game came from a win over High Point in the 2016 quarterfinals.
The game started with both teams trading baskets until Radford pulled ahead late in the first quarter. A strong second quarter saw Radford extend its lead to 27 at halftime. Despite attempts by Charleston Southern to close the gap in the second half, key plays from Simonsen and Williams helped maintain Radford’s advantage through to the final buzzer.
“I felt tonight was a great game by (Radford),” Head Coach Mike McGuire said in the postgame press conference. “This team has played all year long. The offensive pace, the connection, the shot making, it was fun to watch. When you get to this time of the year you just don’t what your team is going to do in tournament time. And this group of ladies was ready to play. Very happy to advance. Very pleased with how we played.”
Radford will next face Longwood on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. in the tournament semifinals at Freedom Hall Civic Center.
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