Winding down. . . We tackle Radford today in our series that already includes W&M, ODU, Liberty, JMU, Virginia, George Mason, VCU, Richmond and Virginia Tech. Norfolk State on deck!
Goings
Rachael Ross: played in 120 games at Radford, fourth in program history; averaged 2.5 ppg last season as a senior
Courtney Davidson: assistant to coach Mike McGuire for two seasons has returned to Youngtown State to be an assistant; she is a native of Youngstown, Ohio
Comings
Tina Lindenfeld: the 6-1 freshman finished her Midlothian High career with 1,289 career points, ranking fifth in school history … Averaged 16.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.9 spg and 1.7 bpg her senior season.
Laney Corbin: 6-foot freshman averaged 15.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.3 bpg and 1.0 spg during her senior season at Page County High in Stanley, Va; first player from the school to earn a Division I basketball scholarship … lettered in cross country, tennis and volleyball
Savannah Felgemacher: transfer from JMU will sit out the season due to NCAA rules; 6-3 forward started against this Radford team in the WNIT
Camille Collier: former assistant at Jacksonville and a standout player at Wake Forest joined McGuire’s staff in July
Talk about boring. No knocks on the Highlanders. In fact, they have ridiculously high potential in our book. But as far as Comings and Goings, there’s not exactly a list of changes like say Virginia Tech or VCU.
That’s because minus one senior, this team returns intact. Two freshmen were added but they will have to work their way into the rotation of the most veteran team in the state.
Radford just missed an invite to the NCAA Tournament last season. The Highlanders played for their first conference championship since 1996 and got nipped 49-48 by UNC Asheville, a loss that stung and McGuire will tell you still lingers today. Radford never trailed until the final five seconds; the Highlanders fell in the first round of the WNIT to JMU.
Remember that feeling in a good way is our advice. Ideally it’s motivation for a winnable Big South for these Highlanders that return five starters in Destinee Walker, Jayda Worthy, Janayla White, Jen Falconer and Claudia Quevado. They will be without Sydney Nunley, who will miss the season with torn ligaments in a tendon. That’s especially disappointing as the 6-4 center put in a stellar summer that went downhill when she sprained an ankle the final week of summer session.
On the flip side, Lydia Rivers is healthy after missing all but the first five games of last season with a torn ACL. Her return will give Radford rebounding a much-needed lift. The 6-2 forward was a starter before the injury.
White will their lone back-to-the basket option. And more good news: ‘”Janayla’s in the best shape she’s ever been in,” McGuire said. The 6-2 senior was a double-figure scorer 15 times last season, leading the Highlanders in scoring six of those and producing a monster effort in the Big South tournament.
Worthy and Walker will both grind through knee issues; sophomore guard Khiana Johnson was the first off the bench last season and will be relied on heavily again. Falconer also looked sharp in Radford’s exhibition against Lynchburg, burying a trio of triples. Quevado was also key with nine assists in the game (get a peek into her personality with this delightful feature).
The HIghlanders won’t be sneaking up on the Big South this season. Seven of 10 league coaches voted them the favorite to win.That’s what happens when you go 24-9 and come achingly close to the NCAA Tournament — a milestone we’d bet them reaching in March.
You’ll have to wait till Sunday to see the first real game. Radford hosts Appalachian State at 5 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Radford Athletics