BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Savannah Plentovich hit a three-pointer to tie the game with two seconds left, and twin Carley Plentovich knocked down a pair of free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining as Gardner-Webb topped Longwood, 80-78, on Saturday.
 
With the win, Gardner-Webb (12-11, 6-5 Big South) avenged an overtime loss to the Lancers (2-19, 1-10 Big South) that happened just one-week ago in Farmville, Va.
 
Saturday night inside Paul Porter Arena was another tightly contested contest that featured three ties and seven lead changes. The Gardner-Webb bench was a key factor in the two-point win, outscoring the Longwood reserves, 43-14.
 
Gardner-Webb took an eight-point lead into the final quarter, but with 5:24 to go, the Lancers made it a one-possession game thanks to a fastbreak layup by Dayna Rouse, who scored the final six points of Longwood's 85-79 overtime win over the Runnin' Bulldogs last week. This time, however, Rouse would only score two additional during over the last five minutes of play.
 
Following the under-five media timeout, Jhessyka Williams gave Gardner-Webb a six-point lead, 73-67, but a 7-0 Longwood run, capped off by Stephanie Guihon's free throw, put the visitors in front, 74-73, with 2:28 to play.
 
On Gardner-Webb's next possession, Robyn Bouwer put the 'Dogs back on top with a layup before Rouse scored her final points of the contest as the lead once again changed teams.
 
Neither team would score until there were less than 15 seconds remaining. A foul by S. Plentovch sent Longwood's Ciarah Bennett to the line and she knocked down both free throws, giving the Lancers a 78-75 lead.
 
S. Plentovich would come up big, however, knocking down a triple off a pass from her twin Carley with two seconds left, and it looked like the junior sharpshooter had forced overtime.
 
The Lancers burned a 30-second timeout to draw up a final play, but Mallory Bennett turned the ball over, giving Gardner-Webb a final look. A foul under the basket sent C. Plentovich to the charity stripe, and she knocked down the game-winning free throws, which were her only two of the night, with 0.4 seconds left.
 
The 80-78 win helped Gardner-Webb get back in the win column and improve to over .500 both overall and in Big South play.
 
Four Runnin' Bulldogs – S. Plentovich (15 points), Williams (14 points), Ky'Asia Stanford (10 points) and Morgan Pointer (10 points) all scored in double figures. Three others – Bouwer, C. Plentovich and Neydja Petithomme – were within one basket of reaching double figures.
 
Williams recorded the lone double-double for Gardner-Webb with 11 rebounds in addition to her 14 points. The Runnin' Bulldogs shot 30-of-67 (44.8 percent) from the floor.
 
Longwood was led by Dayna Rouse. Rouse was one of five Lancers to end the night in double figures. She recorded a double-double with a game-high 22 points and 11 boards. Longwood shot 50 percent (23-of-46) from the floor.
 
Gardner-Webb will return to action on Tuesday, February 12, at Winthrop. The 'Dogs and Eagles will tipoff at 7 p.m. in Rock Hill, SC.