PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Gardner-Webb trailed the Drexel Dragons by 19 points entering the final quarter and despite getting within 13 points, fell 65-48 to begin its two-game road trip in the northeast.

Gardner-Webb (4-5) opened the first quarter shooting just 1-of-11 and committing and committed six turnovers, the majority of which came before the first media timeout. The Dragons started slow, making only two of their first 11 attempts, but ended the quarter 3-of-6 from the floor to take a 17-4 lead after 10 minutes.

Savannah Plentovich's three-pointer from the left wing made it a 10-point contest, 21-11, with 7:11 left in the second quarter, and while the 'Dogs briefly stayed within 10 points, the Dragons would go on a 9-2 run over the final 3:27 of the period to take a 35-16 lead at the half. Gabrielle Caponegro scored Gardner-Webb's only points during Drexel's half-ending run.

Drexel (7-2) led by 24, its second largest lead of the game, after a bucket with 3:05 left in the third, but Carley Plentovich scored seven straight points to cut the Dragons' lead to under 20, 48-31.

Drexel would add two points to its advantage by the end of the third, but C. Plentovich and Neydja Petithomme led the Runnin' Bulldogs on a 6-0 run in the first 45 seconds of the fourth. After being fouled on a fast break, Plentovich hit a pair of free throws to pull Gardner-Webb within 13.

Although the 'Dogs got near the 10-point mark, Drexel answered the Runnin' Bulldogs' run with one of its own, scoring eight of the game's next 10 points. With a 19-point lead just after four minutes had gone by in the period, the Dragons did not allow Gardner-Webb to get closer than 17 for the remainder of the contest.

When the final horn sounded, the Runnin' Bulldogs suffered a 65-48 defeat to drop to 4-5 overall. Drexel got back in the win column, earning its seventh victory of the year.

C. Plentovich scored a game-high 19 points on 5-of-11 shooting. S. Plentovich added nine points, while Petithomme contributed eight. Caponegro led the Runnin' Bulldogs with 10 rebounds. Gardner-Webb shot 16-of-55 (29 percent) from the floor.

Drexel was paced by Hannah Nihill's 17 points. Nihill missed just two shots all game, shooting 6-of-8 from the field. Bailey Greenberg, the Dragons' leading scorer, added 14 points, while Niki Metzel had a double-double, contributing 12 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. The Dragons shot slightly better than the Runnin' Bulldogs, making 20-of-59 attempts (34 percent).

The 'Dogs will look to get back on track at Delaware on Tuesday, December 18. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.