Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
A record crowd for any WNIT first round game, 1,134 spectators, gathered at the Dedmon Center in Radford on Friday.
In addition, it was the first-ever postseason game at the Dedmon Center.
The ladies picked up a 77-58 win over the visiting Morehead State.
Five different Highlanders reached double figures for the first time since Dec. 20, 2024 vs. UVA Wise.
The key run came in the second quarter, when the Highlanders outscored the Eagles 23-5 over the final seven minutes of the first half. Radford forced 22 turnovers in the game, including 15 in the first half and six over the final three and a half minutes of the second quarter.
Cate Carlson led all scorers with 20 points and made eight of 15 attempts from the floor.
Georgia Simonsen finished with a double-double, adding a dozen points with 10 rebounds.
Radford converted on 16 of 20 free throw attempts, while Morehead State made just three of seven from the line.
The win is Radford’s first postseason victory since winning at Penn State on March 15, 2018, also in the first round of the WNIT.
The game was the 36th of the season for Radford. Of historic note, the only other team to play 35 games in program history was the 2007-08 squad, who finished 23-12 overall, Radford’s current record. That team also made the WNIT after making a run to the championship game of the Big South Tournament.
Freshman Georgia Simonsen recorded her third double-double of the season against Morehead State. She received all-tournament honors after scoring 20 points against both Charleston Southern and Longwood. Prior to the conference tournament, she was named Big South Freshman of the Year. The forward from Fairfax is the first Radford freshman since at least before 2000 to score 20-plus points in four consecutive games from February 25-March 7. Simonsen is averaging 16.7 ppg over her past six games.
This year’s team has already taken and made the most three-pointers in a season (254-815). The team also ranks in the top 10 in assists (2nd, 483), points scored (2nd, 2,375), wins (T-5th, 23), rebounds (5th, 1,373), and field goal attempts (6th, 865).
The team was scheduled to play Arkansas State on the road for a Monday game. Because of print deadline, the results were not available.
