BOONE, N.C. – After building a double-digit before halftime, which was erased by Appalachian State in the third quarter, the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs recovered to leave Boone, N.C. with a 67-56 victory.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (2-1 overall) twice led by 15 points, which was their largest lead of the night, in the second quarter. Both times, it was Carley Plentovich and Savannah Plentovich that put Gardner-Webb ahead by that margin, and Savannah's three-pointer off an App State turnover gave the 'Dogs a 31-16 lead. By halftime, the Mountaineers' trimmed only three points as Gardner-Webb led by 12, 31-19, after 20 minutes of play.
Gardner-Webb (2-1) built its lead thanks to a 12-of-33 shooting half and 16 points off turnovers. The 36% mark from the floor came after a slow start for the 'Dogs which saw them convert just two of their first seven attempts. The 'Dogs knocked down five shots from beyond the arc (of 11 attempts) and held the Mountaineers to 7-of-26 from the floor over the first 20 minutes.
Appalachian State (0-4) took advantage of nine Gardner-Webb turnovers and opened the third quarter with 13 unanswered points in a 5:55 span to take their first lead since it held a one-point lead with under minutes to go in the first quarter.
The Runnin' Bulldogs battled back by the end of the third, taking the lead off C. Plentovich's jumper with 3:07 to go and breaking a tie ball game with only one second left in the period via three free throws from S. Plentovich.
After three quarters, Gardner-Webb held a 40-37 lead, but the 'Dogs would come from behind again in the fourth quarter.
The Mountaineers never led by more than three in the final quarter, and Gabrielle Caponegro's three-pointer from the left wing with 5:46 remaining put Gardner-Webb ahead for good.
With 1:45 left in the game, C. Plentovich's three-pointer following a Mountaineers turnover extended the Runnin' Bulldogs' advantage to seven, and the 'Dogs used late free throws from Alexis Hueston and S. Plentovich to earn the win by double-digits, 67-56. The Runnin' Bulldogs ended the contest on an 11-1 run.
Gardner-Webb shot 41 percent (23-of-56) from the floor and drained 9-of-20 attempts from three-point land. While Appalachian State was only slightly worse overall at 35 percent (19-of-55), the Mountaineers connected on only 4-of-15 attempts from downtown.
Three Runnin' Bulldogs finished in doubles with C. Plentovich leading the way with 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting and 4-of-12 from deep. S. Plentovich hit only 2-of-5 shots from the field but missed just one of her eight shots from the charity stripe to score 12 points. Caponegro was the third Runnin' Bulldog in double figures with 11 points.
Appalachian State's Pre Stanley scored a game-high 24 points, while Lainey Gosnell added 11 for the home team.
The Mountaineers held a sizeable advantage on the glass, outrebounding Gardner-Webb, 38-26. Armani Hampton collected a game-high 11 boards for App State, while the Plentovich's each grabbed five for Gardner-Webb.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will return to the friendly confines of Paul Porter Arena for a pair of games during Thanksgiving break. The 'Dogs will host the Western Carolina Catamounts on Wednesday, November 27 and the Furman Paladins on Saturday, November 30. Both games are scheduled for a 2 p.m. start and can be see live on ESPN+.
