BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Morehead State led for more than 36 minutes as the Eagles handed the Runnin' Bulldogs their first loss of the 2018-19 season, 84-69, in Paul Porter Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Gardner-Webb (2-1) managed to keep the game close in the opening quarter, leading 6-4 after a
Savannah Plentovich layup and tying the contest at 11 after
Neydja Petithomme went 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.
Morehead State (2-0) was able to build a double-digit lead by the end of the first 10 minutes of action, using a 14-4 run over the final 3:40 of the period. Aliyah Jeune, who finished the game with a contest-high 28 points, contributed 10 of the Eagles' 14 points during the run.
Trailing 25-15 after one quarter of play, the Runnin' Bulldogs pulled within six points at two occasions in the second quarter, but once again Morehead would go on a run.
Over the final 7:14 of the half, the Eagles would limit Gardner-Webb to just a single point, a free throw by S. Plentovich, while scoring 22 of their own to take a 49-22 lead into the intermission. Six players scored for Morehead State during the 22-1 run to close out the half.
Ky'Asia Stanford would make it a 52-28 score with a jumper at the 6:30 mark of the third, but the Eagles would push the lead over 30 for the first time just 1:10 later when Jaleesa Avery connected on a layup. At the end of the third, Morehead led by 37, 73-36.
In the fourth, the Runnin' Bulldogs cut into the Eagles' lead, scoring three times as many points as the visitors, 33-11.
Trailing 81-50 with 4:19 to go, Gardner-Webb embarked on a 19-3 run to make the final score 84-69 in favor of the Eagles.Petithomme scored 10 of the Runnin' Bulldogs' 19 points during the run, using a pair of three-pointers, as well as an old-fashioned three-point play to account for nine of her 10 points.
Jeune led all scorers with 28 points in 26 minutes. Jalessa Avery (24) and Mckenzie Calvert (12) also scored in double figures for the Eagles.
For Gardner-Webb, C. Plentovich had a team-high 17 points and was one of four Runnin' Bulldogs to eclipse the 10-point mark.
Savannah Plentovich added 15 and pulled down eight rebounds, including four on the offensive end, while
Ky'Asia Stanford (15) and Petithomme (11) also scored in double figures.
Morehead State held a 35-29 advantage on the boards and shot 52.5 percent, while the 'Dogs hit just 41.2 percent of their attempts. Gardner-Webb went 24-for-32 at the charity stripe, and Morehead State took 19 free throws, missing only twice. The Eagles held a 45-17 advantage in points from the bench.
Next up, Gardner-Webb will play its third straight home game as it hosts the Davidson Wildcats for an 11 a.m. tip on Wednesday, November 14. The game is Gardner-Webb's annual education day as local elementary school students will visit Paul Porter Arena to watch the 'Dogs and Cats battle it out.
