The Radford Highlanders women's lacrosse team faced elimination in the first round of the Big South Tournament, losing to Furman 15-5. This marked their first playoff appearance since 2021, but despite Ava LaManna's 14 saves, they struggled against a dominant Furman squad, which embarked on key scoring runs that sealed Radford's fate.

By the Numbers
  • Furman outshot Radford 45-21.
  • Radford won only 5 draw controls compared to Furman's 17.
  • Ava LaManna finished her season just three saves shy of the all-time program record.
Yes, But

While Radford showed potential with key moments, their inability to maintain consistent scoring and control played a significant role in their defeat. The disparity in draw controls and turnovers further complicated their efforts to compete effectively.

State of Play
  • The Highlanders were eliminated from the conference tournament after a two-year absence.
  • Furman's strong second quarter scoring run set the pace for the game.
  • Radford demonstrated resilience but ultimately succumbed to penalties and turnovers.
What's Next

Radford will aim to regroup and analyze their strategy in the offseason to improve for future competitions. With key players returning, strengthening their performance in draw controls and reducing turnovers will be critical moving forward.

Bottom Line

The Highlanders must capitalize on learnings from this setback as they prepare for next season. Addressing weaknesses highlighted by the loss against Furman can foster a more competitive team ready for future tournaments.