#3 Radford Gets Past #6 Gardner-Webb, 69-63, for Semifinal Berth
By Radford Athletics
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The Radford women's basketball program used an incredible early effort and leaned on its defense late to defeat No. 6 Gardner-Webb 69-63 Thursday night and advance to the Big South Semifinals.
BOX SCORE
KEY STATS
Cate Carlson led the way with a career high of 22 points behind four three pointers and a perfect 8-8 mark from the free throw line.
Since 2021, only one Highlander went perfect from the free throw line on a minimum eight attempts. Carlson has done it twice this season.
Joi Williams (13 points) and Taylor Napper (14 points) also added points in the double figures.
Kirah Dandridge is the first Highlander with 10+ rebounds in a game this season with an impressive 13 boards.
Radford's 11 three pointers is their most in a postseason game during the McGuire era.
Gardner-Webb shot just 3-19 (16%), and held off from firing again from three point range until late in the fourth quarter finishing the game 9-30 (30%).
PLAY BY PLAY
Radford's offense took a moment to get adjusted to the neutral court to begin Thursday's quarterfinal game, but the defense stood strong to allow the team time to collect and break through. Williams sunk the first made shot two minutes in while Napper and Carlson combined for a 7-0 run giving Radford a 9-6 lead.
The eventual 12-0 run to close quarter continued with makes from Adriana Shipp-Davis and Williams as Radford led 14-6 after ten minutes. Adelyn Traylor-Walker opened the scoring while Shipp-Davis helped the offense continue to click with another three. With four minutes left in the half, Radford's offense caught fire.
A layup by Napper put Radford ahead 24-15 while an outburst of five quick points by Williams pushed Radford up 31-20. Napper capped the big first half with a three-pointer right after Williams' deep make that gave the Highlanders a 34-20 lead through the opening half of the game.
The shots just kept falling as Makayla Firebaugh joined in with a three of her own to start the second half. A three by Traylor-Walker and layup from Napper paced Radford ahead by 18 and Carlson's first three of the second half put Radford ahead by its highest mark of the night 45-26 with 5:34 left in the third quarter.
A talented Gardner-Webb offense wouldn't back down, however, using a five-minute scoring drought by Radford to inch closer before the quarter closed. Multiple three pointers by Carlson helped Radford go shot for shot, but the Runnin' Bulldogs weren't cooling off scoring seven straight to cut Radford's lead to 53-46 at the 5:54 mark.
With 2:41 left in the game and only up 55-49, the Highlanders got a huge three from Williams that gave them the edge for the rest of the contest. The Runnin' Bulldogs would hit some deep shots down the stretch, but excellent free throw shooting from Carlson, Traylor-Walker and Napper sealed the 69-63 quarterfinals victory for Radford.