RADFORD, Va. – Radford shot a season-high 54.2 percent from the floor and limited UNCW to a season-low .291 field goal percentage on its way to a 77-46 victory in the championship game of the Radford Christmas Classic Saturday at the Dedmon Center.

The Highlanders improved to 10-4 overall with the 31-point victory while the Seahawks suffer just their second loss of the campaign as they dipped to 8-2.

Junior guard Vandy Pullen paced the Radford attack with a game-high 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Pullen was one of three Highlanders in double figures as freshman guard Taleia Moton added 12 and senior forward Corrie Fertitta pitched in 11. Junior guard Johnette Walker dished out a game-best five assists and added nine points and seven rebounds.

Freshman forward Brittany Blackwell scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds to pace the Seahawks. Junior forward Sahsha Taylor added a game-high nine rebounds as the Seahawks held a 39-34 edge on the glass. Sophomore guard Greta Luksyte added eight points and four rebounds.

Leading 12-9 with 13:30 remaining in the first half, Radford took control of the contest, scoring 13 unanswered points over a seven-minute span to build a 25-9 cushion with 7:25 remaining. Four different players scored during the pivotal stretch, with Fertitta leading the way with five.

The Highlanders continued their strong shooting in the final minutes of the frame, out-scoring the Seahawks, 12-9, to take a 37-18 lead into the locker room. Radford was a solid 14-of-23 (.609) from the field in the opening 20 minutes, while UNCW was just 6-for-29 (.207).

Radford continued to build on its lead in the second half, as an 8-0 spurt early in the frame extended the Highlanders’ lead to 28, 50-22. Radford maintained its comfortable cushion as a 9-0 run over a 2:30 span gave Radford its largest lead of the game, 69-34, with 5:57 remaining. The two teams traded baskets over the final six minutes to determine the final margin.

UNCW returns to action Jan. 3 in a 7 p.m. tip-off at home against Western Carolina. Radford is back on the floor Jan. 2 with a 7 p.m. contest against CAA-member Towson at the Dedmon Center.

Notes: Radford’s victory moves the all-time series to 4-2 in favor of UNCW … The loss to Radford marked the first loss in four tries for the Seahawks against Big South Conference this season … The Seahawks 20.7 percent (6-of-29) field-goal shooting in the first half was a season low … The 31-point margin of defeat was the fourth largest of the Ann Hancock era … The Seahawks’ 46 points were the fewest since a 73-43 loss to James Madison during the CAA quarterfinals last season … The Highlanders combined for 13 steals as they forced UNCW into a season-high 29 turnover … Blackwell’s 15 points marked the ninth time in 10 games that she has reached double figures in scoring.

- Courtesy UNCW Sports Information