FAIRLAWN, Va. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined more by missed shots and turnovers than offensive artistry, the Radford Highlanders methodically dispatched the visiting Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs 53-38 in a Big South Conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at the D.N. Dedmon Center.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 572, was a showcase of offensive frustration, particularly for Gardner-Webb. The Runnin’ Bulldogs managed only 16 field goals on 57 attempts, a frigid 28.1% from the floor. Their struggles were compounded by a 2-for-16 performance from three-point range and a 4-for-10 night at the free-throw line. Radford was scarcely more efficient, shooting 33.3% on 17-of-51 shooting, but found a crucial edge by connecting on nine three-pointers.

The most important stretch of the game arrived late in the first quarter and established a pattern Radford would never relinquish. After Gardner-Webb’s Amina Gray hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 13 with just over two minutes remaining in the period, the Highlanders seized control. Radford guard Joi Williams, the game’s dominant player, assisted on a three-pointer by Angelina Nice and, following a Gardner-Webb turnover, set up another triple by Kirah Dandridge in the final minute. This 6-0 burst gave Radford a 16-13 lead at the first break, a margin they would never surrender.

Williams, a 5-foot-7 guard from Leesburg, Virginia, was the engine for Radford. She played 32 minutes and poured in a game-high 21 points, including five three-pointers. She added three assists and was a disruptive force defensively with three steals. Her backcourt partner, Ellie Taylor of Bardstown, Kentucky, orchestrated the offense with a game-high five assists over 36 minutes.

Gardner-Webb, which fell to 5-13 overall, never found an offensive rhythm. The team’s 38 points on 70 possessions translated to an offensive rating of just 54.5. While they forced 19 Radford turnovers and collected 12 steals, they could not convert those extra chances into consistent scoring. Makayla Legette of Latta, South Carolina, and Anaya Harris of Raleigh, North Carolina, each scored eight points to lead the Runnin’ Bulldogs. Amira Ofunniyin of Cary, North Carolina, also added eight points and three assists.

Radford, which improved to 10-9, extended its lead to 28-20 by halftime and 42-28 after three quarters. Gardner-Webb made a minor push early in the fourth, cutting the deficit to 44-38 on a driving layup by Anaya Harris with 6:11 remaining. That proved to be the visitors’ final field goal of the game.

The Highlanders immediately snuffed out any hope of a comeback. Out of a timeout, Williams drilled her fifth three-pointer off an assist from Nice to push the lead back to nine. Gardner-Webb proceeded to miss its final seven shot attempts and committed three turnovers over the last six minutes, scoring zero points. Radford closed the game on a 9-0 run, with Williams icing the victory by making a technical free throw in the final minute.

Beyond Williams’ scoring, Radford received balanced contributions. Georgia Simonsen, a 6-foot-1 forward from Fairfax, Virginia, provided seven points and a key defensive presence. Anaiah Jenkins of Odenton, Maryland, chipped in seven points and a game-high seven rebounds.

Gardner-Webb’s effort was hampered by 15 turnovers and a significant rebounding disadvantage, as Radford won the battle on the glass 41-35. The Runnin’ Bulldogs’ offensive woes were a stark contrast to their previous outing, a 64-61 win over South Carolina Upstate.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Radford entered the game with an 81% probability to win, a projection borne out by their steady, defense-first performance. The Highlanders next travel to face Winthrop on Saturday. Gardner-Webb looks to rebound on the road at Charleston Southern, also on Saturday.