LYNCHBURG, Va. – Gardner-Webb had a pair of scorers in double-figures, yet the Runnin' Bulldogs would fall to Liberty by a 59-41 score in Big South Conference action on Tuesday night inside of the Vines Center.
 
Ky'Asia Stanford and Alexus Hill led Gardner-Webb (14-9, 4-7 Big South) offensively, scoring 16 and 13 points respectively.  The Runnin' Bulldogs made 16 of their 50 attempts (32.0 percent) from the floor.
 
Liberty (15-8, 10-1 Big South) made 41.5 percent (22-of-53) of their baskets, led by Keyen Green who had a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds. 
 
The Flames outrebounded the Runnin' Bulldogs by a 46-25 margin, including an offensive board differential of 29-15.  Second-chance points proved to be a key statistic throughout the game as Liberty outscored GWU, 22-6, in that category.
 
Liberty opened the contest with a three-point basket by KK Barbour with 9:14 on the clock, but Gardner-Webb would answer on its next possession with a put-back basket by Celia Tibbs. 
 
Gardner-Webb would pull within one point again with 7:45 to go after a mid-range basket by Alexus Hill set the score at 5-4, but the Flames would score the next five points to lead by a 10-4 margin with 3:53 on the clock.
 
Hill would split a pair of free throw attempts with 1:55 left to score GWU's final point of the opening quarter, setting the score at 11-9, but Liberty would expand its lead back to six points at 15-9 as the period ended.  The Runnin' Bulldogs failed to make a field goal during the final 3:09 of the frame, going 0-for-5 from the floor during that stretch.
 
Liberty would control much of the second period, outscoring GWU by a 16-9 margin throughout the quarter.  The Flames opened the frame with a 9-2 run over the first 4:18 to build a 24-11 lead.
 
Following a media timeout with 4:49 on the clock, Hill would knock down a contested three pointer to set the score at 24-14 with 4:29 left in the period, but Liberty closed out the half with a 7-4 run to hold a 13-point advantage at 31-18 at the break.
 
Points off of turnovers proved to be a difference maker in the third period, as Liberty outscored the Runnin' Bulldogs by a 6-0 margin in that category, as both teams committed six turnovers during the quarter.  The Flames outscored Gardner-Webb by five points, 18-13, during the period to lead by 18 at 49-31.
 
Gardner-Webb would make one last effort at a comeback in the fourth period, putting together a 6-0 run early in frame, highlighted by a pair of Stanford layups, to pull within 14 points with 3:52 to go.  Liberty would stop the run with a basket by Ola Makurat with 2:33 to go and would hold GWU scoreless for the remainder of the contest, taking an 18-point decision at 59-41.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs return home for their next contest, hosting Winthrop at 3:00 pm on Saturday, February 10.  The game can be viewed live on the Big South Network (www.bigsouthsports.com).