CHARLESTON, SC – Charleston Southern led from the start, and the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs suffered a 66-58 setback despite four players scoring in double figures on Tuesday night.

Charleston Southern (10-16, 7-8 Big South Conference) jumped out to an 8-0 lead before the Runnin' Bulldogs got on the board via a Carley Plentovich three-pointer.

Gardner-Webb (14-14, 8-8 Big South) scored just seven points in the opening period with C. Plentovich, Robyn Bouwer and Gabrielle Caponegro doing the scoring.

After the Bucs took an 11-point lead in the second quarter, Gardner-Webb would pull within seven with Ky'Asia Stanford connecting on a midrange jumper and Savannah Plentovich hitting a pair of free throws. Prior to tonight's game, S. Plentovich ranked 12^th in the country in free throw percentage.

Charleston Southern did not allow Gardner-Webb to get any closer and ended the half on a 6-2 run over the remaining 4:46. C. Plentovich's two free throws with 1:06 left in the half were the final points before the intermission, and at the half Charleston Southern led Gardner-Webb, 30-19.  

In the early moments of the third quarter, the Runnin' Bulldogs again got within seven, but CSU answered with another run of its own. This time, the Bucs embarked on a 13-5 run over 6:19 to take its largest lead of the game, 43-28, with 42 seconds left in the quarter.

The 'Dogs scored the final points of the period to cut the lead to 11 entering the final quarter. Neydja Petithomme knocked down a pair of free throws, and C. Plentovich beat the buzzer with a jumper, and after three quarters, CSU led, 43-32.

With 2:50 to go in the fourth and the Bucs' lead still at 11 points, Gardner-Webb went on a 5-0 run to make it a six-point game. The run lasted just 29 seconds as S. Plentovich went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe and Jhessyka Williams completed an old-fashioned three-point play.

CSU extended its lead back to nine points, and Gardner-Webb would get as close as five with 15 seconds remaining, but it was too little too late. A 6-1 Charleston Southern run over the final seconds helped the home team win, 66-58.

The Runnin' Bulldogs were led by the Plentovich sisters, who each scored 13 points. Caponegro also reached double figures with 11 points, and Stanford contributed 10. The 'Dogs shot 28.8 percent (17-of-59).

Charleston Southern's Shelby Wilbanks scored a game-high 22 points, and Breannah Bretches added 14. CSU made 42.2 percent of its shot attempts (22-of-52).

Gardner-Webb will return to action in eight days when Presbyterian comes to Boiling Springs on Wednesday, March 6. Prior to the 6 p.m. start, head coach Alex Simmons and staff will honor the senior managers, guard Ky'Asia Stanford and graduate student Neydja Petithomme.