CHARLOTTE — Gardner-Webb sophomore goalie Cassidy McDowell (Cincinnati, Ohio) has been named the Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career, announced league officials Tuesday.

McDowell played a pivotal role in Gardner-Webb's (4-12, 2-6 Big South) first road win in program history last Wednesday at Presbyterian, equaling a season-high with 17 saves as the Runnin' Bulldogs pulled out a gritty 12-11 overtime victory. She stopped eight shots in the first half and nine in the second, as the Runnin' Bulldogs outscored 3-1 over the final nine minutes - including Alex Fusco's (Marietta, Ga.) overtime game-winner - to rally from a 10-9 deficit late in the second half.

The sophomore net minder currently ranks second in the nation in total saves (182) and third in saves per game (11.38) - marks that rank first and second, respectively, in the Big South entering this week's Big South Conference Tournament. She has posted at least 14 saves in six games this season - including a campaign-best 17 stops in against William and Mary, Saint Francis (Pa.) and at Presbyterian.

Gardner-Webb will begin its postseason run as the No. 7 seed in the Big South Tournament on Saturday, April 30, when the Runnin' Bulldogs travel to High Point, N.C. to take on second-seeded High Point in the quarterfinal round at 3:00 pm.