BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb women's basketball team began its preparations for the 2017-18 season as the Runnin' Bulldogs held their first official practice this week.
 
Gardner-Webb returns seven letter winners, including four starters, from last year's squad that won 12 games and advanced to the Big South Conference quarterfinals.
 
Tierra Huntsman (Connersville, Ind. / Connersville HS) returns for her senior season after leading the Runnin' Bulldogs in scoring with 15.2 points per game.  She knocked down 57 three-pointers, shooting 37.5 percent behind the arc, and shot 70.5 percent from the free throw line.  Hunstman earned All-Big South honorable mention honors in 2016-17.
 
Senior Alexus Hill (Rocky Mount, N.C. / Northern Nash HS) and sophomore Carley Plentovich (Clearwater, Fla. / Calvary Christian HS) round out GWU's returning leading scorers, averaging 9.0 and 6.9 points per game respectively.
 
Senior Celia Tibbs (Kernersville, N.C. / Winston-Salem Prep) returns after starting 17 contests for Gardner-Webb last season.   She averaged 3.4 points per contest, shooting 43.3 percent from the floor, as well as 3.5 rebounds per game.
 
Head coach Rick Reeves will have a mix of veterans and newcomers to work with, as the Runnin' Bulldogs added a pair of key freshman in Nia Lee (Lawrenceville, Ga. / Collins Hill HS) and Alexis Hueston (Roanoke, Va. / Northside HS), as well as transfers Kate Stainer (Brisbane, Australia / Southeastern Illinois College) and Gabrielle Caponegro (Allenwood, N.J. / LIU Brooklyn).  Caponegro will have to sit out for the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules, but will be able to practice with the team.

Gardner-Webb will tip-off the 2017-18 regular season on Friday, November 10, hosting Pfeiffer at 7:00 pm in Paul Porter Arena.