BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb got off to a hot start on the night and didn't look back, as the Runnin' Bulldogs earned a 70-57 win over visiting High Point in Big South Conference play Tuesday evening inside Paul Porter Arena.
 
Gardner-Webb (10-9, 5-5 Big South) claimed the lead over High Point (8-11, 6-4 Big South) with 9:12 on the clock in the opening period as Lauren Bevis sank three consecutive free throws, and the 'Dogs wouldn't trail again for the remainder of the contest, snapping HPU's four-game win streak.
 
GWU closed the first quarter on a 10-0 run over the final 4:06 to hold a 22-12 lead.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs pushed their lead to as many as 14 points with 7:07 to go in the second period after Morgan Pointer knocked down a pair of three-point baskets, but the Panthers would respond with a 13-2 run to pull within three points at 30-27 with 2:04 left in the half.
 
Gardner-Webb responded with a quick 8-3 spurt to close out the frame, capped by a Carley Plentovich basket from long distance, to give the 'Dogs a 38-30 lead at halftime.
 
High Point opened the third period with a 7-2 run to pull within three points with 6:41 on the clock, but a layup by Carley Plentovich on GWU's next possession would break up the run and the Runnin' Bulldogs would once again push the lead to eight points at 50-42 as action headed to the fourth period.
 
Gardner-Webb drew five fouls on HPU in the opening 3:18 of the final quarter and took advantage of the situation by going 3-for-4 at the line during that stretch to push its lead back to double-digits.
 
Savannah Plentovich buried a deep three-pointer with 5:04 left to give GWU a 14-point lead once more at 60-46, but the Panthers would muster up one more rally with eight unanswered points to trim the GWU lead back down to six points with 2:46 to go.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs broke the HPU run in their next possession on a key three-pointer by Carley Plentovich and would make 5-of-6 free throw attempts in the final minutes to take a 70-57 victory.
 
Carley Plentovich paced the GWU offense with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-4 from long distance in 32 minutes off of the bench.  Bevis followed with 12 points.
 
As a team, the Runnin' Bulldogs went 21-of-61 (34.4 percent) from the floor, including 8-of-13 (61.5 percent) from beyond the arc.  GWU was also efficient from the free throw line, making 20-of-25 (80.0 percent) of its attempts.
 
High Point was led in scoring by Camryn Brown with 15 points on 6-of-18 shooting.  Zaria Wright followed with 11 points.
 
The Panthers were 22-of-61 (36.1 percent) from the floor, including an 8-of-30 (26.7 percent) performance from long distance.  HPU was also just 5-of-8 from the free throw line.
 
Gardner-Webb returns to action Saturday afternoon, hosting Charleston Southern at 2:00 pm.  Live coverage of the contest can be found on ESPN+.