Neby Sparks Highlanders to Overtime Victory over Marshall, 77-74

Radford, Va. - Amanda Neby (Plymouth, Minn.) scored a career high 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds helping Radford University (3-3) to a 77-74 overtime victory over Marshall University (3-3) from the Dedmon Center. The junior forward scored the final four points of regulation to complete a six-point comeback and send the game to overtime. She would then score seven points, all from the line, in the extra session giving them the win.

Jesse Brunjak (Ooltewah, Tenn.) and Ludmila Nicheporchuk (Minsk, Belarus) also posted double figures with 15 and 12 points respectively. Ida Dotson led the Thundering Herd with 23 points, while Catie Knable posted a double double with 11 points and a game best 13 rebounds.

This marked the first overtime game for the Highlanders since the 2000-01 season and the first in the Dedmon Center in over six years when they lost to East Tennessee State, 87-80 on Dec. 4, 1996.

After a sluggish offensive start out of the gate for both teams, Marshall, behind a 12-1 run, would take a 20-14 lead with 8:18 left. The Highlanders responded with a 10-0 run over the next 1:56 to grab a 24-20 advantage. The Thundering Herd came right back with a 11-1 spurt to open up a six-point lead and go into the locker room up 34-31.

Radford quickly closed the gap and took a 45-39 lead with a 15-5 run to open the second half. Marshall countered with another run, this time an 8-0 spurt to grab a 47-45 lead at 12:57. Marshall would then break open a one-point game and take a seemingly commanding 65-59 lead with 2:29 left in the game but a short jumper in the paint by Brandy Allen (Roanoke, Va.) would cut the deficit to four. After a Marshall timeout, the Highlanders and Neby took advantage of consecutive turnovers by the Herd, draining a pair of shots to tie the game.

In the overtime frame, Nicheporchuk would net a three on their opening possession and the Highlanders would never look back. They would not make another field goal in overtime, but made 9 of 10 free throws sending them to the win.

Marshall controlled the glass as they outrebounded Radford, 60-44, including 28 offensive boards leading to 22 second chance points. The Highlanders forced 29 turnovers, but turned the ball over 21 times themselves.

The Highlanders will hit the road on Tuesday, Dec. 17 when they face former Big South rival Campbell University at 5:45 p.m.

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