ROCK HILL, SC – Neydja Petithomme scored five of her 15 points over the final 90 seconds of the third quarter to give Gardner-Webb the lead, and the Runnin' Bulldogs never looked back. The 'Dogs topped Winthrop, 65-52, on Tuesday night, for their 13^th win of the season.

With 90 seconds left in the third quarter and the game knotted at 42-all, Petithomme's layup on a fast break gave GWU the lead for good. By the end of the quarter, Petithomme had single-handedly extended the Runnin' Bulldogs lead to five points, 49-44, via a three-pointer with seven seconds left.

After Winthrop pulled within two, 49-47, with 8:30 to go in the game, Gardner-Webb (13-11, 7-5 Big South) went on a 12-0 run to go lead by 14.

Williams scored the final four points of the run – two at the free throw line and two off a mid-range jumper – to extend Gardner-Webb's advantage to 61-47.

Winthrop (10-13, 6-6 Big South) would never get back in the contest, as the Runnin' Bulldogs led by as many as 16 points with 1:54 to go when Williams knocked down a jumper on a fast break. The freshman from Augusta, Ga. shot 5-of-16 from the floor and went 5-of-8 from the free throw line.

The Eagles' Destinee Jamison knocked down a three-pointer with 28 seconds left, and the game ended in favor of Gardner-Webb, 65-52.

Petithomme was three Runnin' Bulldogs to reach double figures. She, along with Jhessyka Williams, scored 15 points, while Carley Plentovich contributed 11 points. Petithomme shot 60 percent (6-of-10) from floor. Williams pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, while Gabrielle Caponegro grabbed six.

Winthrop placed two in double figures. Anika Riley scored 16 points and pulled down eight rebounds, and Ja'Che Whitfield added 14 points. Kem Nwabudu shot just 2-of-10 but bothered the Runnin' Bulldogs on the boards, collecting 13.

Each team shot 23-of-59 (39 percent) from the field. Free throws were a big difference as Gardner-Webb went to the line three times as many as Winthrop did. The Runnin' Bulldogs attempted 18 free throws and missed just three (83.3 percent). The Eagles took only six free throws and were successful three times (50 percent).

Winthrop outrebounded Gardner-Webb, 39-36, but committed 21 turnovers. The Runnin' Bulldogs turned the ball over 13 times.

The win allowed Gardner-Webb to split the regular season series with the Eagles, avenging a two-point loss in Boiling Springs in January.  

The Runnin' Bulldogs will look to sweep the Campbell Fighting Camels on Saturday in Paul Porter Arena. The game will tipoff at 2 p.m. and will be followed by the Gardner-Webb men's team taking on Winthrop. Both games can be seen live on ESPN+