LYNCHBURG, Va. – Savannah Plentovich scored a game-high 16 points, but the Runnin' Bulldogs came up short as No. 7 Gardner-Webb fell to No. 2 Radford by a 53-51 score in the quarterfinals of the 2018 Big South Conference Women's Basketball Championship, hosted by Liberty University.
 
Both teams were evenly matched throughout the night as Gardner-Webb (19-13) went 17-of-46 (37.0 percent) from the floor, including 6-of-19 (31.6 percent) from beyond the three-point line.  Radford (23-7) made 19 of their 51 attempts (37.3 percent) on the evening, but was just 2-of-14 (14.3 percent) from long distance.
 
Plentovich had 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting, including a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line to lead all scorers.  Alexus Hill (15 points, 6-of-13) and Tierra Huntsman (11 points, 3-of-10) rounded out GWU's top performers.
 
The Highlanders had two scorers in double-digits, as Destinee Walker and Claudia Quevedo each had 12 points.
 
Gardner-Webb missed its first three attempts from the floor, as Radford jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead.  The 'Dogs got on the board with 8:14 on the clock on a tough layup by Alexus Hill, sparking a 7-1 run, highlighted by basket from downtown by  Plentovich with 6:19 to go that gave Gardner-Webb its first lead of the night at 7-5.
 
Both teams swapped baskets throughout the remainder of the opening quarter, with four ties and three lead changes during that stretch.  Plentovich scored the final points of the frame on a well-defended shot just under the basket with 0:37 left, tying the score at 13-13.
 
Radford opened the second period with a 4-0 run, with all points coming from the free throw line.  The Runnin' Bulldogs answered with four quick points, tying the game at 17-17 on a mid-range basket by Hill with 6:59 on the clock.
 
The two teams exchanged baskets over the next 0:52, with the Highlanders taking a three-point lead at 22-19 on a three-point basket by Khiana Johnson with 6:07 remaining.
 
That would be the final points of the period for Radford, as the Gardner-Webb defense would force three turnovers and allow no easy baskets as Radford went 0-for-8 from the floor to close out the period.
 
Gardner-Webb scored eight unanswered points over the final minutes of the quarter, capped by a baseline three from Hill that rolled around the cylinder before falling in, giving the Runnin' Bulldogs a 27-22 lead at the half.
 
Radford opened the third period with an 8-3 run, reclaiming the lead at 31-30 on a steal and a layup by Quevedo with 7:58 on the clock.
 
GWU called a timeout to regroup, and the team responded immediately with a three-point basket by Huntsman, igniting a quick 7-0 run over the next 1:36 to give the 'Dogs a 37-31 advantage with 6:15 remaining.
 
The Gardner-Webb offense went cold for the remainder of the period, going 0-for-5 from the floor, while Radford closed the quarter going 4-for-5 to tie the contest at 39-39 as play headed to the final period.
 
Play was back and forth at the onset of the fourth period, with one tie and four lead changes within the first 2:29 of play, with Gardner-Webb taking a 46-44 lead on a three-pointer by Huntsman with 7:31 remaining.
 
Radford called a timeout during its next possession, and would tie the game once again once play resumed on a Walker layup.
 
Gardner-Webb eventually took a two-point advantage again with 4:13 to go on a layup by Hill, but that would be the final made basket of the contest for the Runnin' Bulldogs, who went 0-for-5 throughout the remainder of the quarter.
 
Radford tied the game for the twelfth time on its next possession as Quevedo connected off of the glass to set the score at 50-50 with 3:52 to go.
 
Huntsman would draw a foul with 1:42 to go on Lydia Rivers, but would make just one of her two attempts to put GWU back on top by a 51-50 score, but Jayda Worthy gave the Highlanders the lead for good with 0:54 left on a driving layup.
 
Quevedo made the second of two free throw attempts with 0:19 left to set the score at 53-51, and Ky'Asia Stanford had two attempts to tie the score in the final seconds, but was unable to score, as Radford went on to take the 53-51 decision.