SHELBY, N.C. (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive struggle where offensive rhythm was a rare commodity, the Radford Highlanders leaned on the scoring of Georgia Simonsen and a critical late-game surge to secure a 65-59 victory over the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs in a Big South Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Paul Porter Arena.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 379, was characterized by physical play and missed opportunities, with both teams finishing with more turnovers than assists. Radford improved to 20-11 overall, while Gardner-Webb concluded its season at 12-18.

The game’s pivotal sequence arrived in the fourth quarter’s final minutes, transforming a tense, one-possession affair into a more comfortable margin for the visiting Highlanders. With Radford clinging to a 55-53 lead and just over four minutes remaining, the Highlanders engineered a decisive 8-0 run to seize control.

The spurt was ignited by Georgia Simonsen, the sophomore forward from Fairfax, Virginia, who consistently found seams in the Gardner-Webb defense. Simonsen converted a layup off an assist from Joi Williams to push the lead to four. After a Gardner-Webb turnover, Simonsen struck again with another layup, extending the advantage to 59-53. The run was capped by Cate Carlson, who drove for a layup to give Radford its largest lead of the second half at 61-53 with 3:52 to play. Gardner-Webb, which managed only 10 points in the final period, could not muster a response, failing to score for over three crucial minutes as Radford pulled away.

Simonsen finished with a game-high 20 points, showcasing an efficient interior game. She was complemented by the backcourt duo of Joi Williams and Angelina Nice. Williams, a guard from Leesburg, Virginia, contributed 18 points and a team-high five assists, while Nice, a sophomore from Round Hill, Virginia, added 15 points, including three three-pointers.

Gardner-Webb’s effort was led by a balanced attack. Amina Gray scored 16 points, and Jaelyn Acker added 13, including a three-pointer and a subsequent free throw that brought the Runnin’ Bulldogs within 58-55 with 3:34 left, just before Radford’s game-clinching run. Anaya Harris tallied 12 points, four assists, and a block for the home team.

The game was a stark contrast in styles from the opening tip. The first half was a disjointed affair, with both teams combining for 23 turnovers. Gardner-Webb established an early edge, leading 16-12 after the first quarter behind two three-pointers from Gray. Radford responded with a strong second quarter, outscoring the Runnin’ Bulldogs 21-16 to take a narrow 33-32 lead into halftime, fueled by 10 points from Nice in the period.

The third quarter saw the teams trade blows, ending in a 17-17 stalemate that preserved Radford’s one-point edge heading into the final frame. The defensive intensity never relented, as evidenced by the final shooting numbers. Both teams shot an identical 23 field goals, with Radford doing so on 54 attempts (42.6%) and Gardner-Webb on 61 attempts (37.7%). The Highlanders held a slight edge from beyond the arc, hitting 9 of 21, compared to Gardner-Webb’s 9 of 20. The most telling disparity came at the free-throw line, where Radford converted 10 of 13 attempts while Gardner-Webb attempted only six, making four.

Defensively, Gardner-Webb’s interior presence was notable, recording eight steals and five blocks, with Kayla Martin contributing three of those blocks. However, Radford’s defense was equally disruptive, forcing 11 turnovers and limiting Gardner-Webb’s offensive efficiency. The Highlanders also won the battle on the glass when it mattered most, securing key offensive rebounds down the stretch to extend possessions and drain the clock.

The victory provided Radford with momentum as it looks ahead to the conference tournament, having now won three of its last four games. For Gardner-Webb, the loss concluded a season of narrow defeats, with several conference games, including this one, decided by single digits in the closing minutes.