BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Junior Carley Plentovich had a career-night inside Paul Porter Arena, hitting eight three-pointers and pouring in 36 points, while Jhessyka Williams added 19 points to help Gardner-Webb overcome a 22-point deficit and defeat USC Upstate, 92-72.

Plentovich's 36 points, 13 field goals made and eight three-pointers are all Gardner-Webb single-game records during the team's Division I era. The Clearwater, Fla. native scored 17 points in the first half and 19 in the second half to surpass her previous career-high of 27 points, which she set against UNC Asheville earlier this season.

Gardner-Webb (10-8, 4-2 Big South Conference) got off to a slow start, scoring just 10 first quarter points, while USC Upstate managed 12 points in the opening period off three-pointers alone and scored 26 in the quarter.

USC Upstate (5-12, 1-5 Big South) led by as many as 22 points when Anda Kuzmina connected from deep with 8:52 left until halftime, but from there the tide would turn and the momentum would be in favor of Gardner-Webb throughout the remainder of the contest.

C. Plentovich sparked 13-2 a Runnin' Bulldogs run that lasted just over three minutes and cut Upstate's lead to 11, 34-23. Although the Spartans would push their advantage back to 15 points with 4:15 remaining, Gardner-Webb would end the half on a 14-0 run to pull within a single point.

Morgan Pointer began the run with a pair of free throws, and Williams, who surpassed her previous career-high of 16 points, scored five straight points to pull the 'Dogs within single digits, 38-30.

The Plentovich twins combined for six of Gardner-Webb's last seven points with Savannah Plentovich hitting a buzzer beating three-pointer from directly in front of the USC Upstate bench. S. Plentovich's triple made it just a one-point game at the intermission with the Spartans clinging to a narrow lead, 38-37.

The Spartans did their best to stall Gardner-Webb's momentum after the half by opening up an eight-point lead, but the 'Dogs slowly cut into the Upstate's advantage.

Gabrielle Caponegro's jumper with 4:14 to go in the third tie the contest at 53, and moments later C. Plentovich once again hit from three-point land to give Gardner-Webb the lead.

Although USC Upstate would tie the game on two occasions in the third quarter, the visitors would never lead again.

C. Plentovich and Neydja Petithomme combined to score the final five points of the third period, and Gardner-Webb led, 63-58, with 10 minutes remaining.

In the fourth period, it was all Gardner-Webb, as the Runnin' Bulldogs scored an impressive 29 points, while holding the Spartans to just 14. Petithomme scored five of GWU's first seven points in the quarter to help the 'Dogs take a double-digit lead with 8:42 remaining in the contest.

Upstate would never get closer than 10 points, 75-65, and Gardner-Webb ended the game on a 17-7 run to win by 20 points. Five different Runnin' Bulldogs scored during the team's final run, which lasted 4:17. Freshman Robyn Bouwer scored 6 of Gardner-Webb's 17 points in that span, while C. Plentovich scored five.

C. Plentovich shot 13-of-19 from the field added a pair of free throws on her way to setting the single-game record. She recorded a double-double, collecting 13 rebounds in 37 minutes, while also dishing out five assists.

Williams (19 points) and Petithomme (11 points) also scored in double figures. Gardner-Webb shot 43.3 percent (13-of-30) in the first half and a sizzling 51.1 percent (23-of-45) over the final 20 minutes. The 'Dogs took advantage of 27 USC Upstate turnovers, scoring 24 points off of them.

USC Upstate was led by DeNisha Swain (23 points) and Brianna Lewis (21 points). The Spartans shot 46.6 percent (27-of-58) for the game.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to action on Saturday at 4 p.m. when they travel to battle Big South newcomer Hampton.