Highlanders Struggle From Field Fall at Lafayette, 63-47

Easton, Pa. -- Radford trailed by just five points at the half but managed just one field goal and six points in the final 10:40 of the game as they fell 63-47 to Lafayette College this evening. The Highlanders struggled from the field, shooting just 27 percent from the field and 18.8 from three-point land for the game, as they fell to 0-4 on the season. The Leopards shot 46.2 percent for the game as they evened their record to 2-2.

Box Score

Seniors Jesse Brunjak (Ooltewah, Tenn.) and Alisha Jones (Mesa, Az.) led Radford with 15 and 14 points respectively. Brunjak also led RU on the boards with five. Lafayette had three players in double figures, led by Vanessa Van De Venter’s double double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Lindsay Myers posted 11 points and eight rebounds with Kara Stetler adding 10 points, five boards and five assists.

Lafayette, who shot 57.7 percent and held a 23-10 edge on the boards in the first half, raced out to a 13-2 lead at 16:33 into the game behind seven points from Naida Dupovac. Jesse Brunjak kept Radford in the game early on netting 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting from behind the arc, hitting a pair of threes after the Leopards pushed the lead to 11. With Radford down 26-18, Alisha Jones would scored 12 of the Highlanders final 14 points of the half to get them within five (37-32) at the break.

The second half began almost as the first, with the Leopards opening with a 11-2 run, in which RU did not score for four minutes, sparked by Kara Stetler’s five points to give LC a 48-34 lead. Radford scored a quick five points to cut the lead to nine, but went into a five minute scoreless drought, which allowed LC to push the lead to 14 after five quick points after not scoring for four minutes. The Leopards cruised the rest of the way for the victory.

Lafayette controlled the boards, out rebounding the Highlanders 49-29. Along with Hunter, Brianne Welte corralled 10 boards with eight points. Senior Taryn Causey (Collierville, Tenn.) chipped in with seven points, three assists and four steals. The Highlanders forced 29 turnovers and had 14 steals, but turned the ball over 20 times themselves.

Radford will be on the road next Tuesday, Dec. 7 when they head to Baltimore, Md. for a match up with UMBC at 7 pm.