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BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb women's basketball team is set to open Big South Conference play against High Point University at the Qubein Center on Wednesday Night.
 
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the action will stream live on ESPN+.
 
Gardner-Webb is 4-9 in Big South Conference opening games. Under head coach Alex Simmons the Runnin' Bulldogs are 2-1 when opening league play. In conference opener history only one overtime game has occurred, which was against High Point in 2018 (Jan. 2), as the 'Dogs lost to the Panthers in OT with a final score of 80-83.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs last saw the Panthers in the semifinals of the 2021 Big South Conference Championship, where they fell to High Point with a final score of 58-75.
 
The overall series history is currently 13-22, with Gardner-Webb currently sitting on a three-game losing streak to the Panthers. Gardner-Webb's last win over High Point occurred on January 28, 2020, with a final score of 70-57 in the matchup.
 
Squad Goals: Gardner-Webb currently boasts four players in the NCAA Statistical Rankings. The Squad of Lauren Bevis, Ki'Ari Cain, Alasia Smith, and Jhessyka Williams currently place in 22 different categories.
 
Watching Williams: Senior Jhessyka Williams was named Co-Big South Player of the week for games played December 6-12, as Williams scored a career-high and program single-game record 38 points along with 12 rebounds in Gardner-Webb's setback at Georgia Southern on Saturday (Dec 11) (third double-double of the season and fifth career double-double). She made a school-record 15 field goals and shot 65.2 percent from the field, in addition to six assists and three steals.  Williams' scoring total is tied for the fifth-most in a single game in Big South history. Williams also joined the 1,000 point club on December 11 and is the 25th player in program history to join the prestigious group. The Augusta, Georgia native has earned a plethora of Big South accolades (2018-19 All-Freshman, 2020-21 Honorable Mention, 2018-19 Freshman of the Week 1x) but this is Williams' second Player of the Week honor in her career.
 
Watching Williams (Continued): Williams is currently ranked in 15 different NCAA statistical categories. Most notably Blocked Shots (122nd, 14), Blocked Shots Per Game (143rd, 1.27), Field Goals Made (59th, 71), Field-Goal Percentage (156th, 45.5), Final Points (73rd, 187), Free Throws Made (70th, 42), Points Per Game (82nd, 17.0), Rebounds (103rd, 90), Rebounds Per Game (109th, 8.2), Steals (45th, 28), and Steals Per Game (58th, 2.55).
 
PassKi': Junior Ki'Ari Cain is currently ranked in the NCAA Statistical Categories of Assists (96th, 45), Assists Per Game (126th, 4.1), Minutes Played (124th, 376), and Minutes Played Per Game (90th, 34.27). 
 
The Sniper: Junior Lauren Bevis is ranked in nine NCAA Statistical Categories. Most notably Free-Throw Percentage (5th, 94.4), Three-Point Field-Goals Attempted (71st, 71), Three-Point Field-Goals Made (51st, 28), Three-Point Field-Goals Per Game (57th, 2.55), and Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage (84th, 39.4). Bevis was named Big South Player of the Week for games played Nov. 22-28 (2nd career weekly honor, 2019-20 Freshman of the Week, 2020-21 Second Team All-Conference). Bevis is also a third-generation student-athlete at Gardner-Webb. Her grandfather, Maurice Bevis, and father Shep Bevis were both members of the GWU football team during their time in Boiling Springs.
 
Swiper Smith: Sophomore Alasia Smith is currently ranked in the five NCAA statistical categories of Blocked Shots Per Game (218th, 1.09), Rebounds (120th, 87), Rebounds Per Game (129th, 7.9) Steals (35th, 30), and Steals Per Game (34th, 2.73). Smith is in a 17-way tie for 14th in the NCAA for rebounds in a single game this season, as she grabbed 19 boards against Austin Peay. Smith was named to the 2021-22 Big South Preseason All-Conference Second-Team and was tabbed the 2020-21 Big South Freshman of the Year at the conclusion of last season. 
 
For the latest on Gardner-Webb Women's Basketball, follow @GWU_WBK on social media or visit GWUSports.com.