BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Tierra Huntsman tied her career-high with 26 points to lead Gardner-Webb to an 82-59 win over visiting Converse College in the final non-conference game of the 2017-18 season on Saturday afternoon.
 
Gardner-Webb (10-2) earned its eighth consecutive victory, the longest win streak for the Runnin' Bulldogs since a 16-game streak to end the 2009-10 regular season.
 
Huntsman scored 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 3-of-7 from long distance, in just 19 minutes of play.  The redshirt-senior was also a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line.
 
Alexus Hill also added 13 points on a 6-of-12 performance from the floor, while seven other members of the team contributed offensively.
 
Brianna James led Converse in scoring with 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs shot at a 43.3 percentage for the afternoon, making 31 of 67 attempts, while the Valkyries were held to a 20-of-55 performance, shooting 36.4 percent.
 
GWU got off to a fast start, building a 13-0 lead in the opening five minutes of play, and would finish the first period on a 9-0 run over the final 2:29 to lead by 18 points at 27-9 after the first quarter.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs would expand their lead to as many as 22 points in the second period after a pair of free throws by Huntsman with 7:17 remaining set the score at 33-11.  Converse would respond, answering with a 11-2 run over the next three minutes to pull within 13 points at 35-22, but GWU would push the lead to 17 points, closing the frame on a last-second layup by Carley Plentovich to head into the locker room with a 43-26 advantage.
 
Gardner-Webb would increase its lead throughout the third period, outscoring the Valkyries by a 28-16 margin to lead by 29 points at 71-42 as play headed to the final quarter.
 
GWU would lead by a game-high 35 points at 82-47 with 6:41 to go in the fourth period after a three-point basket by Kate Stainer.  Converse would close out the game with a 12-0 run over the remainder of the period, as Gardner-Webb would win by a score of 82-59.
 
Gardner-Webb returns to action on Tuesday, January 2, opening Big South Conference play at High Point at 7:00 pm.  The game will be broadcast on the Big South Network (www.bigsouthsports.com).