[Sly Fox]

Hey, finally a game against Radford that students can actually attend (thanks, Kyle). Its Saturday at 6pm inside the Vines and this team is surprisingly dangerous. In fact, they actually lead us in the Big South rankings.


Radford University
Radford, Virginia

Overall Record: 11-6
Big South: 3-0 (1st)


Jeri Porter (Liberty '91)
Head Coach

Victories of Note:

11/10 67-60 @ Virginia Tech
01/13 77-53 @ Charleston Southern
01/15 61-59 @ Coastal Carolina in OT
01/20 65-38 Winthrop


Key Players:


#15 Kelli Darden
6' 3" Junior Center
Thru 17 Games: Averaging 9.9 Points & 6.5 Rebounds with 43 Blocks



#20 Corrie Fertitta
6' 1" Junior Forward
Thru 17 Games: Averaging Team Best 10.4 Pts & 8.2 Rebounds



#22 Johnette Walker
5' 8" Sophomore Guard
Thru 17 Games: Averaging 9.6 Pts & 5.2 Rebounds with Team Best 87 Assists

[bigsmooth]

from the roanoke fishwrap, it appears radford is hyped to get a shot at us. this game will not be easy even though we are home. should be a good one!

Radford gets excited to face off at Liberty
Mark Berman | 981-3125

The hottest women's basketball team in the Big South will test itself against the conference's flagship program this weekend.

First-place Radford (11-6, 3-0) carries a seven-game winning streak into Saturday's game at 10-time defending Big South champ Liberty (11-8, 3-1).

"We want to try to earn some respect," said junior forward Corrie Fertitta, a Northside graduate averaging a team-high 10.4 points and a league-best 8.2 rebounds. "Hopefully this is our year to just show everybody and come out and win some big games. ... Our mind-set is different this year. You've got to have that swagger, that confidence, and I think we have that this year."

The Highlanders have lost 14 straight times to Liberty since beating the Flames in January 2000. Radford hasn't won at Liberty since February 1996.

"This [RU] team -- and the way they're playing right now and the style we're playing right now -- has as good an opportunity as any team we've put on the floor to challenge Liberty and get a win on Saturday," Radford coach Jeri Porter said.

Radford's winning streak includes victories over some lightweights, but it also includes the team's first road sweep of Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina in seven years. Radford is coming off a 65-38 win over Winthrop, the fewest points the Eagles have scored in the 51-game history of that series.

Radford was picked just fifth in the Big South preseason poll but opened the season with a win at Virginia Tech.

The Highlanders, who lead the Big South in scoring offense (68.1 ppg), are playing at a faster pace this season.

"We're really athletic. We love to run," Fertitta said. "That's an advantage over a lot of teams because we're so quick and everyone on our team can get up and down the floor fast."

Radford leads the league in steals (11.7 spg) and turnover margin, forcing an average of 4.1 more turnovers per game than it commits. The Highlanders force an average of 23 turnovers and allow an average of 55.1 points.

"We are bringing this year a little bit of a different style to the floor than anybody in the league has played in the past several years," said Porter, whose squad was 14-14 last season. "We weren't a team that was going to get up and press you man-to-man, full-court last year. We weren't a team that was trying to score 15, 16 points in transition last year."

Radford faces a Liberty team that has won six of its past seven games, with the lone loss coming in overtime at High Point. Glenvar graduate Allyson Fasnacht scored a season-high 15 points off the bench in the Flames' win over Winthrop on Monday.

[thesportscritic]

Radford ought to be excited. They are playing well right now and we are not. If we don't come ready to play against this team then it can be a long night.

[ATrain]

Yeah...it kinda sux I'm gonna be at George Mason, b/c this looks to be a good game. It seems Radford is quickly filling in the void that Winthrop has left open after losing that 6'7" girl.

[bigsmooth]

im happy for coach jeri porter, as she was an ex-classmate of mine at liberty, but i hope they lose saturday. i wish her nothing but success except when they play us.

[jcmanson]

The Big South has definitely taken a step up in play over the last couple of years. Radford this year is just another example. I'm sure Coach Green will have them ready to play.

For those of you that are students, is the Athletic Department doing anything to get people out to this game?

[ATrain]

They mentioned something in Convo today about a doubleheader Saturday. They also mention the games in PL meetings.

[thesportscritic]

I wouldn't count on the Athletic department to promote the Radford LU women's basketball game.

[thepostman]

I didn't realize until talking with someone today that Radford was as good as they are..this should be a good game...and I think that the AD is promoting this doubleheader thing pretty good...I am hoping for a good turnout...I mean what is there do in Lynchburg on a Saturday night in January???

Now the question is, is the big south really improving that much?? Or is it Liberty has had a lack of development from last year?? Just a thought...

[Stevev]

I think that it is a little of both. We are definately down from the past few seasons. I think we can get to that level again just not this year.

[thesportscritic]

Now the question is, is the big south really improving that much?? Or is it Liberty has had a lack of development from last year?? Just a thought...

I would say #2 to some extent.

[Purple Haize]

I need to ask SOMEONE a HUGE favor:

If anyone knows Jeri's husband, and I do, he has an uncanny resemblence to Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish. If someone could put that face on a sign with a nice pithy saying that would be tooo funny. Anyone?

[givemethemic]

I wouldn't count on the Athletic department to promote the Radford LU women's basketball game.

Your right they aren't just promoting the game.... They are promoting BOTH games!!!!!!!!

[thesportscritic]

I wouldn't count on the Athletic department to promote the Radford LU women's basketball game.

Your right they aren't just promoting the game.... They are promoting BOTH games!!!!!!!!

i'll believe it when i see it

[fsn32]

I wouldn't count on the Athletic department to promote the Radford LU women's basketball game.

Your right they aren't just promoting the game.... They are promoting BOTH games!!!!!!!!

i'll believe it when i see it

They promoted the High Point game last year and had a great crowd... the Athletic Department is promoting the games... they can't rent a van drive people to the Vines... but they are doing what they can.

[thesportscritic]

it was CFAW and most of the crowd was CFAW.

[thesportscritic]

when i see more students and a decent amount of community this saturday then i will change my mind but until then....................

[SuperJon]

No matter how much the athletic department promotes it, the fact remains that it's women's basketball.

I don't know many people who actually enjoy women's basketball. I'd rather go to a high school varsity guy's game than a women's game, especially at this level.

[ATrain]

Critic does have a valid point...add to it the fact that it was snowing and there's not much to do in Lynchburg anyway, and you're going to get a decent crowd. Our AD needs to do a better job of marketing the women's team to the student body.

Of course, they managed to market VT fairly well...they just need to do a better job of marketing them throughout the season instead of the big games. They need to focus on the fact that our women's bball program has had the most success and deserves our support. Granted, there are only so many fans of women's bball, but there could be several hundred more people at the games than those who currently go.

[SuperJon]

Once again, IT'S WOMEN'S BASKETBALL.

They market it, the thing is nobody wants to come.

The reason they came to the VT game was because an ACC school was playing here. People would show up to watch a swim meet if it was against an ACC school, especially VT or UVA.

I would say less than 1% of our school are fans of women's basketball in general. The rest come to the games because they're friends with the team or have nothing better to do.

[thesportscritic]

No matter how much the athletic department promotes it, the fact remains that it's women's basketball.

I don't know many people who actually enjoy women's basketball. I'd rather go to a high school varsity guy's game than a women's game, especially at this level.

that is a valid point. it is kinda hard but when you have a winning team then we should support them all the way. have you even been to a women's game yet SJ?

[thesportscritic]

also women's basketball has grown in terms of crowd size unfortunely not here where we have a winning program. there are several programs that average 5,000 or better for women's basketball games.

[SuperJon]

No, I have not been to a women's game, and quite frankly, I highly doubt I will. I don't go to volleyball games, wrestling matches, or tennis matches either.


Dook, the #1 team in the country, is averaging 5442 per game. We're averaging 1200. I think that's pretty good.

[thesportscritic]

No, I have not been to a women's game, and quite frankly, I highly doubt I will. I don't go to volleyball games, wrestling matches, or tennis matches either.


Dook, the #1 team in the country, is averaging 5442 per game. We're averaging 1200. I think that's pretty good.

it is good but it can be better

[thesportscritic]

so do you go to women's soccer games? or do you go to any women's sporting event?