HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point used a 12-2 run to open the fourth quarter to go on defeat Gardner-Webb by a 70-59 score in Big South Conference action Friday night inside the Millis Center.
 
Gardner-Webb (4-8, 4-3 Big South) trailed first-place High Point (10-4, 8-1 Big South) by one possession as play headed to the final frame, but the Panthers scored eight unanswered points in the opening 3:46 to build a 57-46 lead.
 
The Panthers pushed their lead to as many as 13 points with 5:27 to go and would maintain control throughout the remainder of the game.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs were 21-of-73 (28.8 percent) from the floor, including 5-of-23 (21.7 percent) from beyond the arc.  High Point was 25-of-54 (46.3 percent) on the evening, including 5-of-14 (35.7 percent) from long distance.
 
Ki'Ari Cain and Lauren Bevis each had 15 points to lead Gardner-Webb offensively.  Cain was 5-of-15 from the floor and also had eight rebounds in just over 36 minutes of action.  Bevis was 5-of-14, including 4-of-9 from long distance in 36 minutes off the bench.
 
High Point was led offensively by Skyler Curan, who scored a game-best 28 points on 11-of-16 shooting.  Jenson Edwards followed with an 18-point, 11-rebound effort.
 
Both teams will square off again tomorrow afternoon to wrap up the season series.  Tip-off is set for 4:00 pm with live coverage on ESPN+.