BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- The Gardner-Webb University women's basketball team opens up Big South Conference play on Tuesday when it travels to Clinton, S.C. to face the Blue Hose at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Big South Network. Jared Pankhurst will be broadcasting Tuesday's game and can be heard on wgwg.org.
The Game
Gardner-Webb opens up Big South Conference play on Tuesday when it travels to Clinton, S.C. to face the Blue Hose at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Big South Network. Jared Pankhurst will be broadcasting Tuesday's game and can be hard on wgwg.org. Presbyterian enters Tuesday's matchup with an overall record of 3-3 and are coming off a 46-33 victory over South Carolina State on Saturday.
Last Time Out
The Runnin' Bulldogs are coming off a 65-60 victory at Wofford on Saturday, which was the first road victory of the season for GWU. Wofford held an 37-29 victory at half, and would continue to lead in the second half extending its lead to as much as 15 with 10:48 left in the game. Gardner-Webb would fight back and end the game on a 22-7 run to take the 65-60 victory. Jessica Heilig and Candace Brown each paced the Runnin' Bulldogs with 20 points and Heilig hauled down 10 rebonds for her first double-double of the season.
Series Notes
This is the 14th meeting between GWU and Presbyterian since Gardner-Webb transitioned to the Division I level in the 2000-01 season. The Runnin' Bulldogs lead the series with a 7-6 record. Gardner-Webb swpt the season series against the Blue Hose last season, taking the first matchup 54-52 at PC, and pulling off a 59-56 victory at home. This will be the first time that Gardner-Webb opens conference play against Presbyterian.
Home-Court Advantage
The Runnin' Bulldogs posted a 13-2 record at Paul Porter Arena last year, which was tied for first in the Big South Conference for the best home court record. Since it joined the Big South Conference in 2008, Gardner-Webb has 59 home wins, which ranks second in the Big South over that time span and trails over Liberty, who has 67 victories.
Non-Conference Success
Gardner-Webb continues to have success in its non-conference games, and this season is no different. Out of the nine non-conference games this season, the Runnin' Bulldogs have winning records against eight of their nine opponents, including undefeated records against both Montreat and Tennessee Temple.
Big South Success
Head Coach Rick Reeves enters his 11th season as head coach of the Gardner-Webb women's baskeball team. The longest tenured coach in GWU women's basketball history, Reeves' teams have appeared in the conference tournament in 10 of 11 seasons.
Rebounding Dominance
Last season, the Runnin' Bulldogs outrebounded their opponents in all but six of its games and ranked second in the conference in total rebounds per game. Rebounding has been a staple in teams coached by Rick Reeves, as Gardner-Webb has ranked in the top four of the Big South conference in rebounds per game every year since 2008, and has been as high as second on three different occasions.