CLINTON, S.C. — Alex Fusco (Marietta, Ga.) scored a career-and game-high seven goals to lead Gardner-Webb to its first-ever road victory in a thrilling 12-11 overtime win over Presbyterian on Wednesday evening in the Runnin' Bulldogs' regular season finale.

The win marks the first-ever road victory in Gardner-Webb's program history, as the Runnin' Bulldogs also prevailed in overtime for the first time in their second season of existence. Presbyterian (3-13, 1-6 Big South) outshot Gardner-Webb (4-12, 2-6 Big South) by a 41-25 margin in the contest - including a 20-11 advantage in the second half - while edging the Runnin' Bulldogs in ground balls, 31-24. Gardner-Webb won the draw control battle, 15-9, and converted 23-of-30 clear attempts on the night.

Fusco led all scorers with seven goals on 11 shots, as the sophomore attacker pushed her season total to 36 goals and moved within two strikes of the 50-goal mark for her career. Amanda Steinmuller (Eillicott, Md.) and Sadie Bryant (Charlottesville, Va.) each added two goals, while Destiny Mead (Palm Harbor, Fla.) notched her first goal of the season.

Steinmuller dished out an assist, as Emma Rufolo (Woodstock, Md.) tallied five draw controls and four ground balls. Cassidy McDowell (Cincinnati, Ohio) equaled her season-high with 17 saves - including nine in the second half - as Monique Martin (Tyngsborough, Mass.) scooped up four ground balls.

Katy Richardson and Lauren Schaaf paced the Blue Hose with four goals each, as Cady Roberts added a pair of strikes. Maura Talvacchia scooped up a game-high six ground balls while Sophia Cuzzupe made eight saves between the pipes.

The game proved to be a tightly contested and physical affair, which featured five yellow cards, 47 combined fouls and only one two-goal lead. Presbyterian would snatch the early momentum with four of the first six goals, answering an early strike from Steinmuller with four of the next five goals to open the game's only two-goal advantage at 4-2 with 12:19 left in the first half.

Gardner-Webb would answer with a three-goal flurry, scoring three times in three minutes to claim a 5-4 advantage on back-to-back tallies from Fusco - the last of which coming at the 9:19 mark. The Blue Hose countered with two goals in the final eight minutes to take a narrow 6-5 lead into the break following a pair of strikes from Richardson.

The Runnin' Bulldogs responded with a pair of quick strikes to open the second half, as Bryant and Fusco each tickled the twine in the opening seven minutes of the period to put Gardner-Webb back in front by a 7-6 margin. Presbyterian would answer with four of the next six strikes to reclaim the lead, 10-9, on a Richardson free position goal with 7:33 to play. Mead pulled the Runnin' Bulldogs even with her first of the season moments later, knotting the score at 10-10 at the 7:04 mark before Fusco scored her sixth of the night with 1:38 left to put Gardner-Webb in front, 11-10.

Presbyterian evened the tally with barely a heartbeat remaining in regulation, as Schaaf charged in from the flank and scored with four seconds left to send the game to overtime tied at 11-11. The Runnin' Bulldogs would control the pace of play from the outset in overtime, as Fusco found a hole and delivered the game-winner 1:10 into the extra period to give Gardner-Webb the 12-11 victory.

Gardner-Webb now awaits the announcement of the final pairings for next week's Big South Conference Women's Lacrosse Championships to learn its next opponent. The field is expected to be relieved following the conclusion of regular season play on Sunday, April 24.