BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – UNC Asheville's Khaila Webb connected with a mid-range jumper off the glass with 4.8 seconds left to defeat Gardner-Webb by a 61-60 score in Big South Conference action on Tuesday night.
 
Gardner-Webb (14-7, 4-5 Big South) trailed by as many as 11 points late in the third period, but would rally with a 13-2 run to tie the game at 46-46 with 6:32 left in the fourth period after Tierra Huntsman knocked down a jumper from about 15 feet from the basket.
 
UNC Asheville (10-10, 7-2 Big South) answered on its next possession, as Bronaza Fitzgerald connected with a second-chance basket off the glass.  Fitzgerald led all scorers with 20 points and had a game-high 14 boards.
 
The contest would be back and forth over the next 4:20 seconds, with two ties and three lead changes, with the Runnin' Bulldogs taking a 54-42 lead on a driving layup by Ky'Asia Stanford with 1:47 to go.  Stanford led GWU in scoring with 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting.
 
Gardner-Webb would expand its lead to a game-high four points on its next possession, as Alexis Hueston's layup rolled in to give GWU a 56-52 advantage with 37.8 seconds left.
 
Asheville would respond with 7-2 run over the next 20 seconds of play, reclaiming the lead with 18 seconds left on a corner three by Jessica Wall.
 
Stanford would draw a foul on GWU's next possession, and made both attempts at the charity stripe to reclaim the lead for the Runnin' Bulldogs at 60-59 with 12.1 seconds left.
 
That set up the final possession of the game, with Webb driving into the paint and banking in the go-ahead basket with 4.8 seconds to go.
 
GWU was unable to get off a shot attempt in the final seconds, as UNC Asheville left Paul Porter Arena with a 61-60 win.
 
Gardner-Webb made 24-of-57 (42.1 percent) of its chances from the floor throughout the evening, while holding UNC Asheville to a 26-of-58 (36.8 percent) performance.  Second-chance baskets proved to be a key factor in the contest, as Asheville outscored the Runnin' Bulldogs by a 22-4 margin in that category.
 
GWU had four players in double-digits in scoring, led by Stanford's 14 points.  Tierra Huntsman added 13 points on a 5-of-13 evening, followed by Carley Plentovich with 11 points and Alexus Hill with 10 markers.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs return to action this Saturday afternoon, opening a two-game road swing at Radford at 2:00 pm.  The game can be viewed live on the Big South Network (www.bigsouthsports.com).