Bulldogs Suffer Loss At Wofford
December 02, 2008 | Women's Basketball
SPARTANBURG, S.C.
– A 15-0 run by Wofford late in the first half gave the home
team a lead it would not relinquish as the Gardner-Webb women's
basketball team lost its second decision of the season, both of
which have come on the road, by a 78-72 score.
The Bulldogs now stand at 4-2 on the season while the Terriers
improved to 1-4 on the year.
GWU was led by Laura Povilonyte's 17 points and nine rebounds.
Dominique Hudson netted 13 points as she hit three-of-five shots in
24 minutes of play. Margaret Roundtree tallied 11 points and pulled
down nine boards in the losing effort.
In addition to Povilonyte's double-double, LaTroya Pope almost
amassed one after scoring six points and grabbing a career-high 11
rebounds.
After trailing by close to 10 points for much of the second half,
the Bulldogs made a valiant run to take the lead in the waning
moments of the game. Roundtree's lay-up with 3:20 to go off a pass
from Povilonyte pulled the visitors within two, 66-64, but
Dominique Hudson was whistled for her fifth foul on the ensuing
play. Natalie Gramblin sank two free throws and GWU was unable to
get any closer the rest of the way.
The Bulldogs opened the contest with a quick 10-2 run behind solid
play. GWU got a couple of easy buckets through turnovers and
converted the high-percentage shot, allowing for the early
lead.
However, the home team battled back and eventually took the lead on
a three ball by Maddie Helms, making the score 18-16. The Bulldogs
continued to take the ball to the rim and looked to get Wofford in
foul trouble. Despite their best efforts, several times GWU
student-athletes got into the air looking for contact only to make
an errant pass or shot, helping the Terriers gain possession of the
ball.
By looking for the foul instead of trying to score, the Bulldogs
committed 16 first-half turnovers to just nine for the home squad.
GWU was not helped as it went cold from the field. After taking a
22-21 lead on a lay-up by Sherika Montgomery, the Red and Black
were scoreless for the next 3:31 as Wofford used a 15-0 run to take
a substantial lead with 4:29 to go in the first stanza.
The teams traded free throws over the next 90 seconds before
Meranda Burnett's second three-pointer of the game pulled the squad
within 13, 42-29, with 2:46 to play. Courtney Epps then hit two
free throws, but Kate Dempsey sank an easy bucket to give Wofford a
44-31 lead with 2:06 to play.
Epps hit a three and Burnett found Montgomery for a lay-up with
1:23 to go, making the halftime deficit manageable as head coach
Rick Reeves' team was down eight, 44-36, at the intermission.
In the first half, Wofford converted the 16 turnovers into 20
points while GWU had just 11 points off Terrier miscues at the
break.
Wofford converted seven points off GWU turnovers in the second
half, which resulted in the difference in the contest.
The Bulldogs will play at Winston-Salem Thursday night. Tip-off is
slated for 7 p.m.
| Box Score |
