High Point falls to Radford, 71-55 in women's basketball action on Tuesday in the Dedmon Center. The Panthers fall to 14-9 and 7-2 in the Big South while the Highlanders improve to 15-8, 7-2.

Senior guard Candyce Sellars had 17 points while Ayonna Thompson and Ashlee Samuels each had eight.

For the Highlanders, Corrie Fertitta had 21 points. Kelli Darden chipped in 15 while Vandy Pullen had 13.

Radford started the game strong to take an eight point lead, 16-8, at 13:12 on a lay-up from Johnette Walker. The Panthers would rally to go on a 12-5 run and pull within one point when Erica Brockmyer connected for three at 8:06. RU would respond to close out the half with a 15-5 run sparked by a three pointer from Fertitta. The Highlanders went into the break with a 36-26 lead.

Coming out of the break, HPU cut the lead to single digits when Sellars hit a three pointer to start the second period, but Radford refused to back down. The Highlanders went on another run to increase the lead to 15 (51-36) at the 12:21 mark when Tameisha Carter laid the ball in. HPU closed the lead down to a dozen, 51-39, but Radford went on a 15-3 run over the next seven minutes to take their largest lead of the contest, up by 24 with just under six remaining.

High Point would look to rally when Sellars and Thompson combined for three straight baskets from behind the arc to cut the lead to 13 (66-53) with 3:52 left in the contest. But the Radford defense continued to be solid, and that is as close as the Panthers would come in the final minutes.

"Radford came out physical and intense tonight," said HPU head coach Tooey Loy. "I'm not sure what happened to us tonight. We weren't as physical and tough as we usually are. We have to go back to work and try to put this game behind us as we get ready for Saturday's game. We just have to make sure that we come out ready to play every game for the rest of the season."

The Panthers won the battle on the boards, 41-37 with Caitlin Thys pulling down a game-high 12. Radford's defense was strong, causing 18 Panther turnover to just 8 on the Highlanders' side.

HPU will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 17 when they host Birmingham-Southern. Game time is set for 7 p.m. in the Millis Center.