ROCK HILL, S.C. – Gardner-Webb outscored Winthrop by a 8-3 margin over the final 5:19 of play to earn a 54-49 win Saturday afternoon in Big South Conference action at the Winthrop Coliseum.
 
Gardner-Webb (15-11, 10-7 Big South) broke a 46-46 tie with Winthrop (10-15. 7-9 Big South) with 5:19 on the clock as Savannah Plentovich buried a pair of free throws, sparking a quick 5-0 run capped by a free throw by Ki'Ari Cain with 3:31 remaining.
 
Winthrop pulled as close as three points at 52-49 with 1:14 to go after a Jah'che Whitfield basket, yet the 'Dogs would prevent the Eagles from scoring for the remainder of the game, and Cain would drain a pair of free throws with nine seconds remaining to seal the game for GWU.
 
Carley Plentovich led a balanced Gardner-Webb scoring attack with 13 points on 6-of-17 shooting.  Jhessyka Williams and Lauren Bevis each added 10 points, followed by Morgan Pointer with eight points and a team-high 10 rebounds.
 
Winthrop was led offensively by Destinee Jamison-Whitfield with 13 points, followed by Whitfield with 10 points and 11 boards.
 
Gardner-Webb made just 17-of-63 attempts (27.0 percent) from the floor, compared to 19-of-53 (35.8 percent) by Winthrop, but the Runnin' Bulldogs outscored the Eagles from beyond the arc by a 7-1 margin and GWU took advantage of Winthrop's 31 turnovers, scoring 23 points.
 
Gardner-Webb returns home for its next contest, hosting UNC Asheville on Tuesday, February 25 at 7:00 pm inside Paul Porter Arena.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm with live coverage on ESPN+.