ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Led by stifling defense and a quick-strike offense, the Navy women's basketball team will look to continue its undefeated start to the 2024-25 season on Sunday with a neutral site showdown versus Radford University at the historic Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Re-kindling a rivalry that's been dormant since 2008, the Mids (4-0) will go head-to-head against the Highlanders (1-3) inside Colonial Hall on the grounds of the resort. Tip-off between the teams is set for 12 noon on Sunday.

The Navy-Radford game will have live stats provided online, as well as be broadcast on the PassThaBallLive.com platform. PassThaBallLive.com is a subscription-based streaming service that requires patrons to sign-up prior to tuning into the contest. 

Navy vs. Radford / Big South Conference
The Mids and Highlanders haven't met on the hardwood in a women's basketball contest in 16 years as the most recent matchup came in Annapolis on Dec. 22, 2008 in a game that Navy won 61-44 ... The original matchup in this six-game series was on Nov. 23, 1991 when the two programs faced off in Emmitsburg, Maryland as part of the Mount St. Mary's Tip-Off Tournament; Radford was victorious in that game, 80-66 ... Sandwiched in-between those to meetings, the teams have split the series 2-2 ... All-time, the Navy-Radford series is tied at 3-3 with the Mids holding home court advantage, 2-0, while the Highlanders are 2-1 in games on their campus ... Sunday will be the 29th showdown for Navy versus a Big South Conference foe; all-time, the Mids are 20-8 (9-2 vs. Longwood; 4-0 vs. Charleston Southern; 3-3 vs. Radford; 2-2 vs. High Point and 2-1 vs. Winthrop)
    All-Time Meetings vs. Radford
    Dec. 22, 2008 (H): Navy 61 - Radford 44
    Nov. 30, 2007 (A): Radford 63 - Navy 51
    Dec. 19, 2005 (H): Navy 71 - Radford 65
    Jan. 5, 2005 (A): Radford 59 - Navy 51
    Feb. 4, 2004 (A): Navy 74 - Radford 68
    Nov. 23, 1991 (N): Radford 80 - Navy 66  ** - Mount St. Mary's Tip-Off

Comparing the Teams

(2024-25 Stats)	Navy	Radford
Record / League-Only	4-0 / 0-0 PL	1-3 / 0-0 Big South
Home / Away / Neut. Record	2-0 / 2-0	1-1 / 0-2
Points Per Game	77.8 PPG	48.8 PPG
Points Allowed Per Game	49.0 PPG	70.5 PPG
Field Goal Percentage	45.0 %	34.2 %
3-Point Percentage	30.3 %	21.2 %
Free Throw Percentage	63.6 %	66.2 %
Rebounds Per Game	43.0 RPG	32.5 RPG
Assists/Turnovers Per Game	17.5 / 15.8	9.8 / 27.3

Returning Leaders

(2023-24 Stats)	Navy	Radford
Points Per Game	Zanai Barnett-Gay, 14.3 ppg	Cate Carlson/Taylor Napper, 9.0 ppg
Rebounds Per Game	Z. Barnett-Gay, 6.5 rpg	T. Napper, 4.5 rpg
Assists Per Game	Z. Barnett-Gay, 3.0 apg	Makayala Firebaugh, 2.5 apg
Field Goal Percentage	Kate Samson, 53.3 %	T. Napper, 44.4 %
3-Point Percentage	Mary Gibbons, 62.5 %	C. Carlson, 35.7 %
Free Throw Percentage	Maren Louridas, 77.8 %	T. Napper, 80.0 %

Last Time Out -- Thursday vs. Wagner in Annapolis
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy women's basketball team jumped on the Wagner Seahawks early and never looked back on Thursday night as the Mids (4-0) darted out to a 23-1 lead by the 2:52 mark of the first quarter and rolled to a 79-46 victory over the Seahawks (1-2). Navy was clicking in all facets during that opening period as its offense made 11 baskets, including three three-pointers, while its defense forced seven Wagner turnovers and just a 2-of-10 showing from the field as part of a 28-6 score at the end of the quarter. The visiting Seahawks never drew closer than 21 points for the remainder of the game at Alumni Hall as the Mids continued their undefeated streak to open 2024-25.

Navy had a well-balanced team performance with 12 of 13 players scoring and a trio of double-digit scorers. Mary Gibbons led all players with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting with three three-pointers in 15 minutes off the bench. Zanai Barnett-Gay filled up the box score with 16 points, four rebounds, a game-high four assists and three steals to go along with a +31 in the +/- statistical category. Maren Louridas rounded out Navy's trio of performers with double digits as she tallied 10 points in less than 20 minutes of action.

The action kicked off at a frenetic pace as Navy scored on its first four times down the court, while holding Wagner to 0-for-3 from the field with a turnover. Down 8-0, the Seahawks took a timeout in hopes of quelling the Mids' hot start. That break did little to slow down Navy as Barnett-Gay quickly upped her personal scoring total to seven with a successful 'and-one' at 6:22 to make it 11-0 before Julianna Almeida sank her second basket of the game a minute later to advance the score to 13-1 in favor of the Mids. An explosive 8-0 individual run by Gibbons between 4:07 and 3:20 blew the game out further. Ahead 23-1, Navy matched Wagner down the stretch with five points each as the quarter concluded with the Mids up 28-6. Navy took advantage of seven Wagner turnovers to the tune of 15-0 scoring margin.

The Seahawks tried getting back into it with a small 9-8 run to open the second quarter. Trailing 36-15 at the 4:46 mark of the period, Wagner would never get closer to Navy for the remaining 24-plus minutes of play. 

Up 43-19 at half, the Mids slowly advanced its lead out to 32 points, 55-23 by the under-five media timeout (4:49) in the third quarter. Five points by Louridas and a three-pointer by Gibbons bolstered Navy during this initial span. The Seahawks fought back with a 10-2 run over the ensuing 3:19 to draw within 24, 57-33. Nia Henley's first field goal of the game concluded the third period with the score 60-34.

Comfortably in control, Navy added seven points to its lead over the final 10 minutes of the game as it out-scored Wagner 19-12 in the fourth quarter. Morgan Demos led off period with an assist on Louridas' first basket before later posting up deep in the paint for her second field goal of the contest to make it 64-34 at 7:48. Morgan Blackford gave the hosts their largest lead of 35 (79-44) on a fast break layup off a Kelli Giuliani steal at 1:09. Wagner's Irene Fernandez de Caleya registered the final points of the game to conclude the contest at 79-46.
 
For the game, Navy out-shot Wagner 46.5 percent (33-71) to 29.2 (14-48) from the field, while the Seahawks posted better numbers from three-point range, 35.7 percent (5-14) to 31.6 (6-19) and from the foul line 68.4 percent (13-19) to 41.2 (7-17).

Defensively, the Mids forced 24 Seahawk turnovers and were credited with 16 steals. Barnett-Gay, Louridas and Toni Papahronis all tied for the game-high with three swipes each. Off the bench, Giuliani added two steals. Those 24 turnovers played a leading role in Navy's massive 38-4 advantage in points off turnovers.