BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – After leading by just nine points at the half, Coach Alex Simmons' Runnin' Bulldogs more than tripled the lead in the second half to snap a five-game skid and defeat the Converse College Valkyries, 79-51.

Gardner-Webb (5-6) built an early 6-0 lead but was unable to put away the Valkyries in the opening minutes. Converse took two leads in the first quarter, including a 15-14 lead with 38 seconds in the quarter, but Robyn Bouwer tied the score at 15 after the first 10 minutes of play. In the second period, Gardner-Webb opened up its lead, taking a 38-27 lead into the locker room, but it wasn't until the third quarter that the Runnin' Bulldogs finally pulled away.

Converse (5-4) trailed by 15 left in the third quarter, but the Runnin' Bulldogs would lead by as many as 21 points heading into the final 10 minutes.

A three-pointer by Jhessyka Williams, as well as free throws by Nia Lee and Bouwer gave Gardner-Webb its largest lead of the contest at the time.

With a 21-point lead heading into the final quarter, the Runnin' Bulldogs would continue to outscore Converse, allowing the Valkyries only 12 points.

Following a jumper by Converse's Bhrianna Jackson, which made the score 67-42 in favor of Gardner-Webb, the 'Dogs would go on an 8-0 run, sparked by back-to-back three-pointers from Carley Plentovich, to take a 33-point lead, 77-44. The Valkyries would end the game with a run of their own, outscoring Gardner-Webb, 7-2 over the final 5:12 of the quarter.

The 79-51 win snaps a five-game skid for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Converse will consider the game an exhibition.

C. Plentovich led Gardner-Webb with a game-high 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting. The sharpshooting guard made 4-of-8 attempts from beyond the arc. Williams, a freshman, contributed 14 points and shot a hot 3-of-4 from three-point land.

Robyn Bouwer, who played in her first game in a Gardner-Webb uniform after arriving from the Netherlands, was the third player in double figures. She scored 12 points in just nine minutes of play. She shot 4-of-6 from the field and made four free throws.

Nigeria Davis led Converse with 13 points and 9 rebounds.

As a team, the Runnin' Bulldogs shot 30-of-68 (44.1 percent). Despite a tough first half from from three-point territory, Gardner-Webb made six of its 14 attempts from beyond the arc over the final 20 minutes.

Converse struggled from the field, making just 16-of-50 attempts. After shooting 42.9 percent over the first 20 minutes, the Runnin' Bulldogs' defense held the Valkyries to under 25 percent in the second half.

Gardner-Webb narrowly won the rebounding battle, 42-38, but benefited from 30 Converse turnovers, scoring 19 points off those turnovers. The GWU bench contributed 40 of 79 points in the win.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will close out non-conference play at Western Carolina on Wednesday, January 2. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. from Cullowhee, N.C.