Women's Basketball Puerto Rico Classic Preview
December 18, 2015 | Women's Basketball
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.- Gardner-Webb heads to San Juan, PR for the Puerto Rico Classic, where it will face Western Michigan, Southern Methodist, and Arizona. The Runnin' Bulldogs will spend a total of five days in the U.S. Territory before heading home for Christmas. Live stats will be provided for all games.
Last Time Out
The Runnin' Bulldogs are coming off an impressive 70-56 victory over Kennesaw State Tuesday evening. Gardner-Webb opened with the game's first four points and a basket by Olivia Parker made the score 6-5, but KSU went on a 14-0 run over the next 6:02, before Tierra Huntsman drilled a three-pointer to end the drought with 19 seconds left in the quarter, as GWU trailed 19-9 after 10 minutes. GWU would creep back in the game in the second stanza connecting on 8-of-13 from the field, while holding KSU to just 2-of-12 as the Dogs held a 27-26 led at half, which they would not relinquish. The Runnin' Bulldogs connected on a season-high 25-of-49 from the field for a 51.0% clip, including knocking down 13-of-23 in the second half.
Rebounding Prowess
A staple of Rick Reeves' team have been rebounding and since it joined the Big South in 2007-08, Gardner-Webb has ranked in the top four in the league in rebounding every year except the 2011-12 season.
Daily Double
Olivia Parker is off to a fantastic start to her senior season, as she has recorded a double-double in six of the eight games so far this season which ranks tied fifth in the country and for her career, has put up double-digit points and rebounds in 26 games.
Jump Shots
2 Gardner-Webb's 6-2 record though its first seven games to open the 2015-16, is its best record in that stretch since 2009-10, when it went 9-1 to open the season, including reeling off eight-straight victories, after losing its season-opener against Houston.
2 The Runnin' Bulldogs rank first in the Big South hauling down 45.6 rebounds per game which also ranks 19th in the country for rebounds per game.
2 Gardner-Webb leads the Big South and is 7th in the country averaging 19.0 offensive rebounds per game and is 27th in total rebounds per game (44.63)
2 Dating back to last season, Gardner-Webb ended the season winning 7 of its last 11 games and has won six of its first eight games to start the 2015-16 season.
