Beacons Drop Opener of CSU Invitational to Radford
The Valpo women’s basketball team outscored Radford over the final three quarters of its opener at the CSU Invitational in Cleveland Wednesday afternoon, but a late first-quarter run was too much to overcome for the Beacons, as they fell by a 68-61 final. Fiona Connolly (South Burlington, Vt./Brewster Academy [La Salle]) and Kennedy Sproule (Niverville, Manitoba/Churchill [Bay College]) both had their highest-scoring games in a Valpo uniform in the defeat.
How It Happened
– Connolly helped Valpo get out of the gate strong, scoring seven early points as the Beacons led 9-5 4:21 into the game.
– The Highlanders outscored the Beacons 16-4 over the remainder of the opening period to take a 21-13 lead at the end of the first.
– Valpo’s deficit reached 13 points just under four minutes into the second quarter, as Radford extended to a 32-19 advantage.
– The Beacons held the Highlanders scoreless over the next four-plus minutes, scoring six points in that stretch to move to within seven points.
– Sproule and Connolly knocked down triples late in the first half to have Valpo within 38-31 at halftime.
– The Beacons forced a quick timeout by Radford just 1:15 into the second half, as Milana Nenadic (Kitchener, Ontario/Cameron Heights [Idaho State/Maine]) hit a pair of free throws and Connolly went coast-to-coast after grabbing a rebound to make it a three-point game.
– The stoppage didn’t slow Valpo, as it completed a 9-2 run with a Kayla Preston (Omaha, Neb./Millard North) 3-pointer and two free throws from Connolly to tie things up at 40-40 with 7:25 to play in the quarter.
– The Beacons were unable to take the lead, as they went scoreless for nearly four minutes, but they only gave up six points over that same stretch to stay within striking distance.
– Valpo trailed 46-43 with three minutes left in the period before Radford closed on a 9-3 spurt to lead 55-46 with 10 minutes to play.
– The Beacons cut the deficit to seven points multiple times in the fourth quarter, but were unable to get any closer.
Inside the Game
– Connolly led all players with a 21-point afternoon, the third time this season she has boosted her career high in the scoring department. She also tied for game-high honors with eight rebounds, one shy of her career best.
– After scoring just three points in the first three games she appeared in at Valpo, Sproule hit double digits Wednesday with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-6 from behind the 3-point line, and grabbed three rebounds.
– Nenadic finished with nine points and a career-high seven rebounds, while Kamryn Winch (Bonne Terre, Mo./North County [Maryville]) tallied six points and matched Connolly with eight rebounds.
– Mikayla Huffine (Rockford, Ill./Rockford Lutheran [Quincy/Iowa Western C.C.]) led all players with four assists.
– Valpo shot just 36.4% (20-for-55) from the field and was just 7-of-27 from 3-point range, but held Radford to similar numbers, limiting the Highlanders to 33.3% (25-of-75) shooting and 8-of-29 from 3-point range. The 33.3% field goal percentage was the worst by a Valpo opponent since the Beacons held Indiana State to the same clip on Jan. 30 last season.
– The Beacons were strong at the foul line Wednesday, going 14-for-16 (87.5%) from the charity stripe. It was just the second time in the last two seasons they have hit at that high a clip from the free throw line.
– Valpo owned a 46-40 advantage in the rebounding department, its best rebound margin since finishing +!0 on the glass at Bradley Feb. 15, 2024.
Next Up
Valpo (0-6) continues action at the CSU Invitational on Friday afternoon when it faces the host Vikings at noon CT. The game can be seen live on ESPN+.