Radford, Va. . - Senior Taryn Causey (Collierville, Tenn.) scored 20 points and Radford’s defense held Charleston Southern (5-8, 0-1 Big South) to 28 percent from the field as the Highlanders won their six-straight, 62-44, in both team’s Big South Conference opener from the Dedmon Center this evening. It was the Radford's (7-7, 1-0 BSC) first League opening victory since the 2000-01 opener vs. Coastal Carolina.
It was Causey’s fourth 20-point effort in five games as she shot 7-for-11 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. Senior Jesse Brunjak (Ooltewah, Tenn.) chipped in with 11 points for the Highlanders. Keena Wicker led the Lady Bucs with 10 points, six boards and two blocks. Erica McCoy chipped in with eight points and seven rebounds.
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Behind 15 first half points from Causey, 50 percent shooting and two big runs the Highlanders cruised into halftime up, 41-22. The Highlanders broke open a 13-10 game with an 11-2 run to grab 24-12 lead capped off by a three from Brunjak.
A layup by McCoy and two free throws from Wicker cut the RU lead to eight (24-16). Radford quickly regrouped and outscored the Lady Bucs 17-6 over the final 6:22 to take the 19-point lead into the break. Causey scored seven of those points, including a runner in the lane as the buzzer sounded.
Radford, who hit just four field goals in the second half, was able to deny a Charleston Southern comeback by hitting its free throws down the stretch. RU hit 11-of-17 freebees in the second half, including 11-of-13 in the final 8:14 when the Highs hit only one field goal.
The Lady Bucs capitalized on the early shooting funk, cutting the Highlander lead to 46-33 with an 11-2 run, capped off by a McCoy layup at the 10:49 mark. The Highlanders stopped the comeback by hitting eight straight free throws to push the lead to 21 (56-35) with 5:32 to go. RU’s only field goal in the final 8:14 was a three by Causey with 2:01 to go, give the Highlanders their largest lead of the game at 24.
RU shot 39.6 percent for the game while its defense held its opponent to under 30 percent shooting for the second straight game. The Highlanders also outrebounded CSU, 41-36 with freshman Corrie Fertitta (Roanoke, Va.) pulling down a team and game best 10. She also had a team high three assists. Deborah Cherry led the Lady Bucs with nine boards.
Radford returns to the Dedmon Center floor on Mon. Jan. 17 when it hosts Coastal Carolina at 9 p.m. in a Big South Television Game. Charleston Southern travels to Lynchburg, Va. to face Liberty on Monday at 7 pm.
