RADFORD, V.A. -  After a first quarter where they shot over 50% from the field, the Charleston Southern women's basketball team dropped a road game to the Radford Highlanders by a final score of 84-52. 

Charleston Southern (4-21, 2-12 in conference) was able to force 16 turnovers on nine steals. Jazmine Jackson had three of her own. Sha'Mya Leigh was the leading scorer with 14 points as well as five rebounds. Zaire Hicks was right behind her, coming off the bench and scoring 10 points in 25 minutes. Alba Garcia scored eight points in 22 minutes, making just her third start of the season. 

First Half
The Bucs got off to a hot start, going on a 9-2 run to begin the game. Garcia began the game with a three pointer, and Kennedi Jackson knocked down six-straight points during the run. After they extended the lead to 14-9 with 4:27 left to go in the first quarter, the Highlanders (11-14, 7-7 in conference) closed the quarter on a 19-9 run over the final four minutes to take a 28-21 lead. The Highlanders were 11/17 overall from the field and out-rebounded the Bucs 8-4. 

After Madison Adamson knocked down a three pointer to start the second quarter, the Bucs cut the lead to four. That was the only three pointer that CSU hit for the rest of the quarter, as they finished 0/6 from beyond the arc. Later in the quarter, the Highlanders pushed their lead to double-digits, taking a 40-30 lead with 1:34 left in the first half. A pair of free throws by Hicks kept this at 10-point game heading into halftime. 

Second Half
The Highlanders took over in the second half, out-scoring the Bucs 42-20. After Charleston Southern cut the deficit to eight to start the half, it was all Radford. They went on a 17-2 run over a seven-minute span to push the lead to 23 points, taking a 59-36 lead with 3:05 left in the third quarter. Their lead got to as high as 26 points, when they knocked down a free throw after a layup and the foul with 1:34 to go. 

In the final quarter, the Bucs were out-scored 17-6. They were unable to cut the deficit to as low as 19 points, when Leigh knocked down a jumper with 7:02 left to make it 69-50. The Highlanders lead got to as high as 32 points, when they knocked down a pair of free throws with under a minute left, taking the 84-52 win.


Next Up
The Bucs are back in action this Wednesday, as they play host to Campbell at 6 p.m. at the Buc Dome. It will be the second time that these two teams face off this year.