HIGH POINT, N.C. – Ky'Asia Stanford would knock down a free throw with 36 seconds remaining in the fourth period to force overtime, but Gardner-Webb would eventually fall to High Point by an 83-80 score in the Big South Conference opener for both squads on Tuesday evening inside the Millis Center.
 
Gardner-Webb (10-3, 0-1 Big South) took a 69-67 lead with 1:31 remaining after Alexus Hill converted a pair of free throws, yet High Point (7-5, 1-0 Big South) would take the lead on its next trip down the floor as Camryn Brown would connect from long range with 59 seconds remaining.
 
Stanford would draw a foul on Brown with 36 seconds on the clock to go to the free throw line, but would miss her first attempt.  The junior guard would make the second attempt to tie the game at 70-70.
 
The Panthers would attempt to score the game-winning basket in the final seconds, but Shea Morgan would miss a pair of layups to send the game into overtime.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs would take a 73-72 lead with 4:27 remaining in overtime as Tierra Huntsman would connect from long distance, but High Point would take the lead for good on its next possession, as Lindsey Edwards would draw a foul and make both free throw attempts to hold a 74-73 advantage with 4:03 left.
 
HPU would increase its lead to six with seven seconds left on a pair of free throws by Brown, and Carley Plentovich would hit a three pointer in the final seconds pull GWU within three at 83-80.  High Point would then inbound the ball to wrap up the game.
 
Hill led Gardner-Webb offensively, scoring 24 points on 8-of-18 shooting, including 8-of-11 from the charity stripe.  Carley Plentovich followed with 15 points off of the bench, while Huntsman and Savannah Plentovich each added 14 points.
 
Savannah Plentovich also pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds, recording the first double-double of her collegiate career.
 
High Point had six players reach double-digits in scoring, led by Kat Harris with 18 points.
 
Gardner-Webb shot 43.3 percent for the game, making 29-of-67 baskets, while HPU made 30-of-72 attempts, shooting at a 41.7 percent clip.  Free throw shooting was the difference maker as the Runnin' Bulldogs shot just 54.2 percent from the line, going 13-for-24, while the Panthers made 89.5 percent of their attempts, making 17-of-19 attempts.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs would jump out to an initial lead in the first period, leading by as many as seven points at 13-6 with 3:31 to go after a driving layup by Stanford capped a 6-0 run.  The Panthers would answer on their next possession with a three pointer by Kat Harris, and would pull within two points at 15-13 to close out the opening frame.
 
The two teams would swap baskets to open up the second period, until HPU would go on an 8-0 run midway through the quarter to build a 24-19 lead with 5:57 remaining. GWU would break the run on its next possession, as Savannah Plentovich would score on a putback layup, and the Runnin' Bulldogs would tie the game at 26-26 on a corner three by Plentovich with 3:43 on the clock.
 
High Point would respond with another scoring run, scoring six unanswered points to lead by a 32-26 margin with 52 seconds left.  Plentovich would knock down another basket from long distance in the final seconds to pull the Runnin' Bulldogs within three points at 32-29 at the half.
 
Gardner-Webb would be outscored by High Point by a 21-13 margin in the third period, as the Panthers would close the quarter on an 8-0 run over the final 1:21 to lead by 11 points at 53-42.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs would fight back at the onset of the final period, opening with a quick 8-0 run, capped by a Huntsman three pointer with 8:20 on the clock.  GWU would continue to claw back, tying the game at 57-57 with 6:12 left after a driving layup by Hill, but HPU would reclaim the lead with a midrange jumper by Morgan with 5:23 to go and would lead by as many as five points at 63-58 with 4:03 on the clock.
 
Gardner-Webb would once again rally, outscoring the Panthers, 9-4, over the next 1:48 to tie the game at 67-67 with 2:15 to go after a deep three pointer by Carley Plentovich.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs return home for their next tilt, hosting Radford on Saturday, January 6 at 3:00 pm.  The game will be broadcast live on the Big South Network (www.bigsouthsports.com).