Runnin' Bulldogs Tip-Off Big South Conference Slate Friday Night at Campbell at 7 p.m.
December 29, 2011 | Women's Basketball
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
DATE: Dec. 30, 2011
SITE: John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center
TIP-OFF: 7:00 p.m.
RADIO: WGWG 88.3 (FM) The Range
TALENT: Jared Pankhurst and Brad Evans
LIVE STATS: www.gocamels.com
SERIES (DI): Division I series tied at 8-8.
SERIES VS. CAMPBELL
GWU and Campbell renew their rivalry from the Atlantic Sun to the Big South Conference with the two teams' tipping off their conference slates against one another in 2011-12. The overall Division I series is tied at 8-8 overall, with GWU holding on to a slight 8-7 advantage in regards to conference meetings. GWU and Campbell last met back in 2007-08 when both teams' were members of the Atlantic Sun Conference. However, the Runnin' Bulldogs are only 1-6 at Campbell overall.
ROAD TRIP!
GWU's contest versus Campbell on Friday night will be the Runnin' Bulldogs' fourth straight road game and second road contest in three days having earned a victory in Durham, N.C. against N.C. Central on Wednesday night. GWU is 1-4 overall in road contests this season.
RIDE THE MOMENTUM FROM THE FIRST WIN
GWU will look to ride the momentum of their first win of the season on Wednesday night into play on Friday night against the Campbell Fighting Camels. In GWU's 56-45 win over N.C. Central on Wednesday night, the Runnin' Bulldogs outscored the Lady Eagles 24-22 in points in the paint and 13-6 in bench points.
OFFENSE IS COMING ON AFTER A SLOW START
After scoring less than 50 points seven of their first nine games, all losses, the Runnin' Bulldogs offense appears to have found its rhythm over the last two games, as GWU has totaled more than 50 points in each contest. GWU scored a season-high 65 points in a 76-65 loss at Lipscomb on December 18th and then totaled 56 points as a team overall in the Runnin' Bulldogs' 56-45 win over N.C. Central in their last outing.
DEFENSE! DEFENSE! DEFENSE!
In GWU's 11-point win over N.C. Central on Wednesday night, the Runnin' Bulldogs held the Lady Eagles scoreless for over 10 minutes in the second half. GWU held the Lady Eagles to 19 points on 6-of-26 (23.1 percent) shooting in the final 20 minutes of play.
LAST TIME OUT
The Gardner-Webb women's basketball team held North Carolina Central scoreless over a 10 minute stretch in the second half en route to a 56-45 road win in Durham, N.C. on Wednesday night. GWU finished off the opening half with a 6-4 run, highlighted by a jump shot by Jasmine Dale in the closing seconds, to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 31-26 lead heading into the halftime break. The five-point halftime lead is GWU's first of the season, as the Runnin' Bulldogs shot 48.3 percent (14-of-29) from the floor and outscored NCCU 18-6 in points in the paint and 9-3 in second chance points over the first 20 minutes of play. A lay-up by NCCU guard Blaire Houston at the 4:11 mark ended a 10 minute scoring drought for the Lady Eagles, who then got a fast break lay-up by fellow guard Kabrina Truesdale on the next possession to cut the GWU lead to eight at 48-40 with 3:16 to go in the game. The Runnin' Bulldogs finished the contest off going 5-of-6 from the free throw line in the final minute of play, holding on for the 56-45 non-conference road win. Gardner-Webb held the Lady Eagles to 19 second half points, on 23.1 percent shooting (6-of-26), and knocked down free throws down the stretch to secure the road win.
GWU WILL RETURN HOME IN THE NEW YEAR
Gardner-Webb's next home contest will be on January 7th, as the Runnin' Bulldogs will host the Charleston Southern Buccaneers at 5 p.m. in Paul Porter Arena. The game will be GWU's first home contest since hosting Wofford on December 3rd and will be part of a double-header with the men's basketball team.
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| Game 10 & 11 Notes: Gardner-Webb at N.C. Central & Campbell |
