Bulldogs Post Largest Win In School History In Home Opener
November 17, 2008 | Women's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Four Gardner-Webb student-athletes scored in double figures and the Bulldogs amassed multiple school records in the 97-49 pounding of UVa-Wise Monday evening in front of 341 fans in the team's home opener.
The Bulldogs even their mark at 1-1 on the season while the Lady Cavaliers fall to 1-5.
For the first time in school history, GWU had a pair of student-athletes post 20 points in a single game. Laura Povilonyte and LaTroya Pope each tallied game-high honors with 20 points apiece. Pope's 20 points were a career high as she netted nine-of-16 shots from the field in addition to canning two charity tosses.
Povilonyte reached 20 points on eight-of-13 shooting from the floor. She drained two three-point attempts and two foul shots.
Dominique Hudson and Margaret Roundtree each dropped in 14 points in the win. Roundtree pulled down nine rebounds, eight of which were on offense.
Sophomore Courtney Epps posted a near triple-double type line with eight points, seven rebounds and seven assists in just 19 minutes of action.
Sherika Montgomery grabbed a game-high 11 boards, seven of which came on the offensive glass.
GWU forced the Lady Cavaliers into 40 turnovers, which turned into 49 of the Bulldogs' points. GWU dominated the paint as the team had 62 points in the lane compared to 16 by the visitors, much of which came in the closing minutes of play.
The Bulldogs tallied 25 second-chance points and 22 fast break points as well.
Head coach Rick Reeves' team turned on the pressure from the outset, wanting to set the tone early. In the first eight minutes of play, GWU held a 14-7 advantage after Kim Norris's jumper in the paint. From that point on, the Bulldogs forced multiple turnovers and did not allow an easy shot the rest of the half. The Red and Black outscored the opposition 29-4 over the final 11:45 of the stanza, putting the game out of reach.
After three foul shots by Brittney Maxwell sliced the lead to 45-14, GWU held the visitors scoreless for the next 4:21 while scoring 14 unanswered points. The Bulldogs continued to pile on the points, amounting a 52-point advantage, 74-22, with 11:06 to play.
For the second straight contest, GWU grabbed at least 50 rebounds after tallying 54. Twenty-six of the 54 were of the offensive variety.
The Bulldogs' 24 steals established a school record. The previous record was 21 in the home opener a season ago. GWU's 48-point win topped the 45-point margin of victory on Nov. 10, 2007 against Montreat last year.
GWU will host North Carolina Central Saturday evening at 7 p.m.,
in the second of four consecutive home games.
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