Bulldogs Survive Scare From Campbell, Advance To A-Sun Semifinals Against Jacksonville
March 06, 2008 | Women's Basketball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In what is one of the best rivalries in the state of North Carolina, the No. 3 seeded Gardner-Webb women's basketball team used a last second defensive stand to knock off Campbell, 57-56, in the Atlantic Sun Conference quarterfinals Thursday afternoon to earn a spot in the Friday afternoon semifinals.
The Bulldogs improve to 13-17 on the season while the Camels end their season at 12-18.
Atlantic Sun Conference Rookie of the Year Monique Hudson netted two free throws with 1:10 to play to give GWU a three-point lead, 57-54. After a lay-up by Ashley Williamson cut the lead to one with 41 seconds to play, the Bulldogs had to use a last-second stand to thwart off a pesky Lady Camel squad.
With 15 seconds to play, Monique Hudson drove the lane, spun to her left and fired up a five-foot shot that hit the backboard, the back of the rim and the front of the rim before falling onto the court and out of bounds to the Camels with 11 seconds to play.
After Campbell worked the ball around, a Bulldog double team forced the Camels into somewhat of a panic mode with the seconds coming off the clock. Lauren Arthur took the ball on the left side of the lane, but was smothered by the tenacious GWU defense, which forced her into an awkward shot as she was falling forward. The shot was on target, but was just a few inches short, securing the win for the Bulldogs. It marked the third straight victory over the Camels for GWU in A-Sun play, as the teams have faced each other in each of the least three quarterfinal games.
For the game, redshirt-sophomore Laura Povilonyte poured in a game-high 13 points to go along with a career-high four steals and five rebounds. Second-team all-conference selection Margaret Roundtree netted 11 points and grabbed nine boards while Monique Hudson chipped in 11 points to go along with a team-best three assists.
Redshirt-sophomore Jessica Bryant chipped in nine points, seven of which came in the first few minutes of the contest. Sophomore Meranda Burnett added seven points and three assists while Courtney Epps and Jenny Sprouse each connected on their only opportunities of the ball game – three point attempts – for three points apiece.
In a tightly contested game throughout, the Bulldogs opened up a seven-point advantage at the intermission after connecting on 39.3 percent of their attempts, including four-of-eight from behind the arc.
After moving out to a 10-point lead early in the second period, Campbell was able to hold the Bulldogs without a field goal for a four-minute stretch as the designated visitors sliced the lead and eventually took the lead at 45-44 with 4:48 to play.
Campbell would push its advantage to two, 46-44, on an ensuing foul shot by Lauren Yesh.
Burnett was fouled on the next possession and calmly sank one before missing the other. However, Roundtree was there for the offensive rebound. Her put back gave GWU a one-point lead, 47-46, with 4:35 to play.
Campbell would re-take the lead on its next possession, but GWU once again countered with two Bryant shots from the foul line, giving the Red and Black a lead it would not relinquish, up 49-48.
Monique Hudson's running floater in the lane at the 3:24 mark gave the Bulldogs a 51-48 lead. However, Yesh's jumper in the paint with 3:05 to play cut the lead to one, 51-50.
Monique Hudson was fouled at the 2:47 mark and hit both free throws, only to see Campbell second-team all-conference selection Marlena Murphy hit a jumper in the paint, trimming the Bulldogs' margin to one, 53-52.
Povilonyte buried an 18-foot jumper. However, Murphy answered her again, making the score 55-54. Then, Monique Hudson took over, netting the final two points of the game for GWU before helping make the tough defensive stand, ending the Camels' season and Murphy's career.
GWU was able to take the early lead in the first half due to constant Campbell miscues. The Camels were forced into 21 turnovers, which the Bulldogs converted into 16 points. GWU, which had struggled with turnovers, committed just 12 and the Camels were able to muster just nine points off the Bulldogs' mistakes.
The Bulldogs will now take on the Jacksonville Dolphins at 1 p.m. EST tomorrow at Lipscomb in the first of two semifinals games.
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