Turnovers Haunt the Runnin' Bulldogs in a 55-49 Road Loss at UNC Greensboro
November 17, 2012 | Women's Basketball
Greensboro, N.C. - Despite junior center Catrina Green posting her third straight double-double on the season, the Runnin' Bulldogs' were plagued by 31 turnovers in a 55-49 road loss at UNC Greensboro in Fleming Gymnasium Saturday afternoon in Greensboro, N.C.
The loss was the Runnin' Bulldogs first on the season, as GWU falls to 3-1 on the year, while with the win UNC Greensboro improves to 1-2 on the year.
Gardner-Webb was led by Green's game-high 20 points and career-high 17 rebounds, while fellow junior Jasmine Dale chipped in eight points in the loss.
UNC Greensboro had two players post double digit points in freshman Lucy Mason and fellow newcomer Ciara Morris, who recorded 14 and 10 points, respectively, while Morris also hauled down 10 rebounds in 32 minutes of play.
The Spartans, who out rebounded Gardner-Webb 49-44, pulled down 23 offensive rebounds for the game and shot 13 more free throws (28) than the Runnin' Bulldogs (15) for the game.
In its first road contest of the season, the Runnin' Bulldogs got off to a slow start and found themselves down 9-3 on a Morris jump shot with 16:02 to play in the first half.
After a layup by freshman forward Alicia Quinn at the 10:44 mark jump started a 6-0 run by the Runnin' Bulldogs to push the visitors in front for the first time at 16-14 on another layup by sophomore guard Mayhana Dunovant with less than 10 minutes to play in the opening half, GWU refused to relinquish the lead for the remainder of the half to hold on to a 22-20 halftime lead at the break.
Three quick points by Jessica Heilig to start the second half pushed the Runnin' Bulldogs in front by five at 25-20 with 19:17 to play in the contest, however, the Spartans refused to go away, battling back to take a 28-27 lead on a jumper by Jara Savage with 15:54 on the game clock.
GWU tied the score up once more at 31-31 on back-to-back layups down low by Green, yet struggled to score points over the next several minutes of play, as the Spartans outscored the Runnin' Bulldogs 9-1 over the next five minutes of the contest to pull back out in front of GWU by eight at 40-32.
A Dale free throw at the 7:52 mark cut the Spartans' lead to three at 40-37, however, the UNC Greensboro would convert nine made free throws over the final four minutes of play to hold on to a 55-49 win.
The Runnin' Bulldogs, who outscored the Spartans 34-18 in points in the paint, shot 32.8 percent (20-of-61) from the field overall, yet were only 1-of-8 (12.5 percent) from behind the three-point line.
Gardner-Webb (3-1) will remain on the road to take on Appalachian State on Tuesday night, November 20th, at 6 p.m. in Boone, N.C.
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| Box Score: UNCG 55, GWU 49 |
