FAIRLAWN, Va. (Interstat) — In a gritty, turnover-plagued Big South Conference rematch, the Radford Highlanders edged the Winthrop Eagles 61-57 on Saturday at the D.N. Dedmon Center, completing a regular-season sweep.

The game, witnessed by 447 fans, was a defensive struggle defined by missed shots and miscues. The teams combined for 44 turnovers and neither shot above 38.6% from the field. Radford’s superior three-point shooting, making 9 of 24 attempts compared to Winthrop’s 1-for-13 performance from beyond the arc, proved to be the decisive factor.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the final two minutes, a tense sequence that saw Radford cling to a narrow lead amid a flurry of errors. Leading 59-57 with under 30 seconds to play, Radford’s Joi Williams committed a traveling turnover, giving Winthrop a chance to tie or take the lead. The Eagles, however, immediately gave it back as Madison Ruff was called for a travel on the ensuing possession.

After a Radford timeout with 24 seconds left, Winthrop was forced to foul. Georgia Simonsen of Radford made the first of two free throws to extend the lead to 60-57 but missed the second. Winthrop secured the defensive rebound and called timeout with 22 seconds remaining, setting up a final play for a potential game-tying three-pointer.

The Eagles worked the ball to Mya Pierfax, but her contested jump shot missed with 19 seconds on the clock. Simonsen grabbed the crucial defensive rebound for Radford and was fouled. She again made the first free throw and missed the second, but the miss left Winthrop with only 13 seconds to attempt a desperation three-pointer. Ruff’s driving layup at the final horn was too little, too late, sealing the four-point victory for the home team.

Radford (15-9, 4-3 Big South) was led by Cate Carlson, who scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds. The Virginia Beach native hit four three-pointers, providing critical offensive spacing. Simonsen, from Fairfax, matched Carlson’s 18 points and added seven rebounds and a key block. Joi Williams contributed 12 points and four assists.

Winthrop (11-12, 3-4) was powered by Madison Ruff’s game-high 19 points and five rebounds. Tocarra Johnson was a defensive force for the Eagles, blocking four shots, grabbing eight rebounds and recording two steals in just 19 minutes of action. Cori Lard added 11 points off the bench.

The game was a reversal of the first meeting on Jan. 17, which Radford won 67-65. This contest followed a similar pattern of tight defense and small margins. Winthrop started strong, leading 17-12 after the first quarter, but Radford used an 18-11 second-quarter advantage to take a 30-28 lead into halftime. The teams traded blows in a 17-17 third quarter before the frantic final period.

Despite being outscored 34-24 in the paint and committing 23 turnovers, Radford’s ability to connect from distance and secure key defensive stops down the stretch secured the victory. Winthrop’s offensive struggles were encapsulated by an offensive rating of just 67.4 points per 100 possessions.

Radford next travels to face Longwood on Wednesday. Winthrop returns home to host High Point, also on Wednesday.