ROCK HILL, S.C. (Interstat) — A pivotal Big South Conference matchup featuring two teams seeking consistency will unfold Saturday when the Radford Highlanders visit the Winthrop Eagles in women’s basketball.

Both teams enter the 1:30 p.m. contest at Winthrop Coliseum with identical 10-9 overall records. The game marks the start of the second half of the conference schedule for each squad.

Radford arrives buoyed by a 53-38 defensive victory over Gardner-Webb on Wednesday. The Highlanders have struggled on the road in conference play, however, including a 78-40 loss at High Point on Jan. 10.

Winthrop looks to rebound from a 100-79 road loss at Longwood on Wednesday. Prior to that, the Eagles had won three straight conference games, showcasing their offensive capabilities.

The spotlight will be on a duel between two of the league’s top guards. Radford’s Joi Williams is coming off a 21-point performance against Gardner-Webb and has scored in double figures in four of her last five games. For Winthrop, Amourie Porter has been a force, averaging 21.5 points over her last four contests, including a 25-point effort in a win at USC Upstate on Jan. 7.

Radford’s defense, which held Gardner-Webb to 38 points, will be tested by a Winthrop offense that has surpassed 75 points three times this season. The Highlanders will need to contain Porter and limit second-chance opportunities to secure a rare conference road win.

The Eagles must improve their defensive intensity after allowing 100 points to Longwood. Winthrop will rely on its home-court advantage, where it is 3-1 in Big South play this season.

Saturday’s winner will gain a key tiebreaker and momentum heading into the final month of the regular season. The teams will meet again in Radford, Virginia, on Jan. 31.