BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb started the evening on a hot streak, knocking down four straight three-point baskets in the opening six minutes of play to propel the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 71-57 win over Furman on Monday evening.
 
Gardner-Webb (3-2) shot 44.0 percent from the floor for the game, making 22 out of 50 baskets, including 9-of-16 behind the three-point line, while Furman (3-1) shot just 26.3 percent for the game, going 15-of-57 from the floor.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs had three players reach double-digits in scoring, led by Tierra Huntsman with 21 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 9-of-12 from the free throw line.  Savannah Plentovich added a career-high 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-6 from downtown, and Alexus Hill had 18 points on a 5-of-14 shooting performance.

The win also marked Gardner-Webb head coach Rick Reeves' 200th win at the helm of the Runnin' Bulldogs. In fourteen seasons in Boiling Springs, he has compiled a record of 200-207, and in 32 years of experience as a collegiate head coach, he has an overall record of 467-445.
 
The Paladins were led in scoring by Cierra Carter with 20 points on a 6-of-14 shooting performance.
 
GWU jumped out to an early 18-6 lead over Furman with 4:10 left in the opening period after a three-pointer by Huntsman, the fourth straight basket from long distance for the Runnin' Bulldogs.  GWU would go on to expand the lead to 15 points at 21-6 with 1:22 on the clock after a pair of free throws by Carley Plentovich and would lead by 13 points at 21-8 at the end of the period.
 
The Paladins would fight back in the second period, making 11-of-12 free throws along with 45.5 percent shooting for the frame to pull within seven points at 38-31 at halftime.
 
The two teams went back and forth throughout the third period, until a late 6-0 run, capped by a jumper by Hill, by GWU gave the Runnin' Bulldogs a 12 point lead with 2:02 on the clock.  Furman's Celena Taborn would knock down two free throws in the final seconds to set the score at 50-40 after three periods.
 
Gardner-Webb would build its lead to as many as 13 points with 6:45 to go in the fourth period after a mid-range jumper from Ky'Asia Stanford set the score at 58-45, yet Furman would pull within single digits at nine points with 3:16 on the clock on a layup by Carter.  GWU would answer with a corner-three by Savannah Plentovich with 2:17 remaining, giving the team a 12-point lead at 64-52, and would go on to win by a margin of 14 points at 71-57.
 
Gardner-Webb returns to action this Saturday afternoon, hosting Montreat College at 4:00 pm inside Paul Porter Arena.