By TYLER KELBAUGH

For The Daily News

 

GREENVILLE — After earning the right to host program’s first WNIT game, junior forward Jada Payne led East Carolina (22-10, 11-7 AAC) to a commanding 74-52 victory against Radford (17-14, 13-6 Big South) on Wednesday night.

“Just a really good program win,” said head coach Heather Macy. “I thought a lot of kids contributed. I love the way we valued the ball and defended hard. We did what you need to do in postseason play, make open shots and value the basketball.”

Payne, who scored 22 points on the evening, shot 8-of-15 from the floor, including a 3-for-5 mark from beyond the arc. The junior has scored over 20 points 11 times this season.  Macy was able to take the forward out of the game long before the final buzzer rang, thanks to a dominating first half from her team.

“We’re super excited and super motivated to be playing in the post season,” Payne said. “I’m just happy we came out with the win.”

ECU headed to the locker room at halftime already with a 38-26 lead. The Lady Pirates dominated the Highlanders on the glass, winning the battle, 23-14, and in turn posted 19 second-chance points. The Highlanders managed just two second-chance points for the entirety of the first half.

An all-around dominating half by red-shirt senior Abria Trice made it all possible. The senior snared seven rebounds and added 10 points to Payne’s 12 in the first half, finishing the game with 12 points. Still, this was a team victory from top to bottom.

“We look to Jada, Abria and (forward I’Tiana Taylor) every night,” Macy said. “But Janesha Ebron ran the club tonight. She had five assists, really valued the ball and got us in our stuff.”

Using a 15-4 run early in the second half, ECU secured victory and seemed to let off the gas. The Highlanders never threatened to cut into the Lady Pirates double-digit lead and found themselves in a 20-point hole late in the second half.

The Lady Pirates full-court press left Radford flustered, as the Highlanders turned the ball over 23 times. ECU scored 30 points off those turnovers compared to just nine for Radford. Macy’s squad held their opponents to a combined 19-for-50 shooting night, only allowing the Highlanders to make 2-of-12 three point attempts.

Throughout the evening players on the ECU bench were roaring for their teammates. According to Macy, that palpable energy went a long way in securing the Lady Pirates’ win.

“I think we’re all pulling in the same direction. The kids are on the bench all pulling for one another,” Macy said. “They’re totally invested in one another’s success. It makes such a difference. When you have that energy for 40 minutes it makes you difficult to beat.”

Looming for the Pirates is a matchup with either Eastern Tennessee State or N.C. State, depending on the winner of their match on Thursday night.

“We’re excited to move on to the next round,” said Macy. “Regardless of the opponent, we’ll prepare like we always do and be ready to compete.”