Published: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009 / Updated: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009 07:28 AM

Winthrop women's basketball team falls to Radford at home

Winthrop lost its second straight Big South home game by faltering down the stretch Monday.

The Lady Eagles played another low-scoring, defensive game that ended with them squandering a four-point lead in the final seven minutes in a 54-50 loss to Radford.

Winthrop led 39-35 with 6:41 left in the game following a layup by point guard Yvonne van Daalen. Radford's Davida Dodson hit a 3-pointer from the wing and another from the corner to tie the game at 41 with 5:35 to go.

Kymesha Alston drove hard to the lane for a layup to give Radford the lead for good at the 4:06 mark. But the fireworks were yet to come.

Radford (3-11 overall, 2-1 BSC) led 50-48 when Alston drove the right side of the lane. Officials' whistles sounded with 35 ticks on the clock.

A foul was called on Winthrop. Eagles coach Bud Childers disagreed with the call.

Another whistle, a quick one. Technical foul.

Childers was stunned.

Radford senior Johnette Walker sank both technical free throws. Alston connected on one of the foul shots and the two-point game was suddenly a five-point affair.

Winthrop's next possession resulted in a quick, ugly pass into the team's bench for a turnover.

Ball game.

Winthrop is now 1-2 in the conference. Both the losses have come at the Coliseum.

Childers was cautious with his comments after the game. He was not happy with the way the game was called.

"The technical (foul) was called on our team for standing up on the bench. I've coached a lot of games in 27 years. I have never seen that call," Childers said.

Controversial calls aside, Winthrop didn't shoot the ball well. Childers' staff had the team missing eight shots in the paint in the first half alone.

Ashley Fann registered a double-double by scoring a team-best 13 points to go with 10 rebounds. But she made just 5 of 16 shots from the floor and missed three layups.

Tiffany Rodd, the team's second-leading scorer going into the game, finished 0-for-8 including five misses from 3-point land.

The game was a disappointment, especially since Childers spoke to those two players at Sunday's practice specifically about being leaders.

"I told them we want them to be aggressive, lead the team and make shots," Childers said. "We should have dominated that game in the paint. I'm concerned we've lost the ability to close out games."

Meanwhile, Radford continues to have Winthrop's number. The Highlanders have won six straight and own a 50-6 advantage in the series.

"I am so proud of this team," first-year Radford coach Tajama Ngongba said. "Tonight we fought, and at the end, we finished with composure."

Radford's Taleia Moton scored in double figures for the seventh straight game, finishing with a game-high 14 points. Alston posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 boards. Walker added 10 points, six rebounds and four steals.

Winthrop's Ashley Haugtvedt finished with nine points and Jessica Fansler scored eight. Shelly Hankins came off the bench to grab a season-high eight rebounds in 23 minutes.

The Lady Eagles' next game is at home 5 p.m. Saturday against Coastal Carolina.