RICHMOND, Va. – Eilish Gately scored the game winner off an assist from Lauren Deaver with 2:45 left to lift Gardner-Webb to a 16-15 win at VCU Wednesday afternoon.

The win was a program-record fourth in a row for the Runnin' Bulldogs (6-3), who also tied the program single-season mark for wins in a season – with eight regular season games remaining on the schedule.

Gardner-Webb jumped out to a quick lead Wednesday, going up 2-0 with just 5:14 gone off the game clock after goal from Jessica Vetter (26:35) and Tori Birks (24:46). Gately pushed the lead to 3-1 with another unassisted goal at the 23:17 mark and Gardner-Webb led 7-3 after a goal from Emily Rowell (15:25).

After a brief rally from the Rams (3-4), Gardner-Webb extended its lead to 11-6 with 2:52 to play before halftime when Talen Francis took a pass from Deaver and scorched the back of the net.

VCU rallied from there, going on a 4-0 run that spanned the final minute of the first half and the first three minutes of the second. Anna Koniencki scored an unassisted goal with 27:28 to play in the game, trimming the Gardner-Webb lead to 11-10, before Ciarra Ashworth scored her fifth goal of the season to halt the run.

Smith scored again with 19:12 to play to give Gardner-Webb some second-half momentum, but VCU rallied five minutes later when Koniencki sparked another 4-0 rally – scoring twice in a four-minute span, and assisting on another goal to give the Rams a 14-13 lead. It was VCU's first – and only – lead of the game.

Francis tied the game with her 27th goal of the season with 5;45 to play and Gately saved the day moments later. She scored her 15th goal of the season off an assist from Deaver to put Gardner-Webb up 15-14 with 3:31 to go and - after Koniencki tied the game with 3:07 to play - scored the game winner off another feed from Deaver.

Gardner-Webb and VCU were dead even with 22 shots on goal each and Gardner-Webb had a slight 19-14 edge in draw controls. 

Katie Sylvester (6-3) picked up the win between the pipes, turning away seven shots and leading the way with four ground balls around the crease.

Gately led the offensive charge with four goals and an assist on five shots. Deaver scored once and had three big assists and Francis added a pair of goals and eight draw controls.

Jada Preston scored twice, as did Smith. Gardner-Webb had 11 different players score in the win.

VCU got five goals and an assist from Koniencki and four goals from Del Rossi.

Gardner-Webb is back in action on the road on Friday, March 20, traveling to play at Butler. First draw is set for 3:00 pm in Indianapolis.