Box Score (PDF)
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- Tierra Huntsman scored a career-high 17 points and Olivia Parker recorded a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Gardner-Webb women's basketball team (4-0, 0-0 BSC) to a 59-57 victory over UNC Greensboro (2-3, 0-0 BSC) in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday evening in Paul Porter Arena.
Gardner-Webb's 4-0 record through its first four games of the season, ties the best start since the Runnin' Bulldogs joined the division I ranks in 200-01.
The Runnin' Bulldogs forced 21 turnovers by the Spartans and converted the TO's into 17 points compared to just four by UNCG. Despite struggling to hit shots from the fieldvhitting just 19-64, Gardner-Webb scored 20 second chance points while holding the visitors to just four.
Candace Brown continued her hot start to the season with 17 points, hauled in seven boards and hit 7-8 from the free-throw line, while Lucy Mason was outstanding for UNC Greensboro, scoring a game-high 28 points.
Midway through the first period, Huntsman scored a layup and was fouled. She hit the ensuing free-throw to put the Dogs up five, 10-5 with 5:33 left in the first period.
UNCG responded with a 7-2 run over the next two minutes to tie the game at 12, but the Runnin' Bulldogs led 16-14 at the end of the first period.
Gardner-Webb continued to hold the lead throughout the entire second period and would lead by as much as nine (29-20) when Brown hit 2-2 from the line with 2:26 left, but the visitors ended the period with a 7-0 run and trailed by two, 29-27 at halftime.
Throughout the third period the game would remain in the balance. Bailey Williams drilled a three-point shot with under a minute left to put UNCG up 44-39, and the Spartans led by four (44-40) at the end of three.
India Timpton's layup with 3:10 left in the fourth period gave the Spartans a 53-49 lead, but back-to-back shots by Parker and Huntsman gave the lead back to GWU 54-53 with 1:57 left.
Gardner-Webb capitalized on its free-throw shooting down the stretch knocking down all five of its attempts in the final 1:30 of regulation.
The Runnin' Bulldogs had possession of the ball with 21 seconds to go after Mason went 3-3 from the line, but the ensuing in bounds pass deflected off a Spartan defender and then ricocheted off Brown to give the ball back to UNCG with 15 seconds left.
Mason went in for a layup, but her attempt missed, but the Spartans would force a jump ball on the rebound and the possession arrow would give the ball back to UNCG with a chance to tie or win the game.
The ensuing play saw Mason force a long three, but her attempt clanked off the iron and the Runnin' Bulldogs held on for the 59-57 victory.
Gardner-Webb will enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday and return to action on Saturday, when it hosts the University of the Pacific Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
