Second Half Surge Lifts Runnin' Bulldogs to 69-63 Home Win Over Appalachian State Tuesday Night
November 20, 2013 | Women's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Gardner-Webb got double-doubles from Catrina Green and Olivia Parker, and the Runnin' Bulldogs used a stingy defense to run away from Appalachian State for a 69-63 win at Paul Porter Arena on Tuesday night.
Green led all scorers with 23 points on 9-12 shooting and chipped in 11 rebounds, helping GWU (4-0) gain a 53-40 rebounding edge that would pay dividends in the win over the Mountaineers. Parker put up 15 points and pulled down 12 boards (7 offensive) on the night.
For the third consecutive game, Gardner-Webb's halftime adjustments enabled the Runnin' Bulldogs to pull away after the break. Down 35-32 at the halftime, GWU tightened up defensively to win the 2nd half 37-28, holding the Mountaineers to 11-33 FG (33.3%) after halftime.
Appalachian State, which led by as many as 11 in the 1st half, hit 5-8 from three point land in the opening half, including two apiece from Maryah Sydnor and Katie Mallow. The Mountaineers led 21-10 with 11:31 to play in the 1st half on a three-pointer from Farrahn Wood.
Jasmine Dale countered with a three-pointer of her own to spark 16-7 run finished on back-to-back free throws by Parker with 3:02 to play before the break. An old-fashioned three-point play by Joi Jones with :03 left in the 1st half broke a 32-32 tie and gave the visitors the halftime lead.
Gardner-Webb used a 9-0 run, with eight of those points coming from Green and Parker, coming out of halftime to build an eight point advantage at the 17:18 mark in the 2nd half. Mayhana Dunovant capped GWU's explosive run with a driving layup.
Mallow nailed a jumper with 9:46 to play in the 2nd half, capping a 16-5 run for Appalachian State that left GWU trailing 51-48. A Candace Brown layup pulled the Runnin' Bulldogs within one, and Brown dished to Green for another inside score to account for one of the game's eleven lead changes and put Gardner-Webb on top 52-51.
With 6:06 left to play, Brown sunk both her free throw attempts after snagging one of her nine rebounds on the night. Jones turned the 54-51 GWU lead into a 55-54 one for Appalachian State, scoring four straight points to give the visitors the lead at the 5:05 mark.
Green continued to shine down low, taking an assist from Parker and converting in close to put GWU back on top 56-55. Amber Doniere responded for the Mountaineers with a made jumper with 4:26 left in the game as Appalachian State retook the lead briefly, 57-56.
Parker made a jumper on the next possession to give GWU a 58-57 advantage then started a key stretch for the Runnin' Bulldogs on the next offensive possession, hitting both free throws after hitting the glass for consecutive offensive boards. The second-effort play put GWU up 60-57 with 3:42 to play and set the tone for a 14-18 2nd half free throw shooting effort for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Four points from Sydnor, including two free throws at the 1:42 mark, pulled Appalachian State within two at 63-61, and the Mountaineers tied at 63-63 on Joi Jone's second chance jumper with :44 to play in the game.
With :36 left, Dunovant gave Gardner-Webb the lead for good, driving the lane for a layup and a 65-63 lead. Mallow missed a contested three-pointer with 25 seconds left.
GWU went 4-4 from the free throw line in the game's closing seconds, with Dunovant and Green each knocking down both of their respective free throw attempts.
In addition to 38 points combined from Green and Parker, the Runnin' Bulldogs also got 8 points from Brown (3-11 FG), 10 points from Jasmine Dale (3-10 FG, 2-5 3PT), and six apiece from Dunovant (2-9 FG, 0-3 3PT) and Kiera Currie (2-4 3PT).
Gardner-Webb also earned a 16-11 advantage in assists during its win over the Mountaineers.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will look to extend its four-game win streak November 25 at North Carolina Central. The game in Greensboro, N.C. is set for a 6:00 p.m. tip-off.
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