CLINTON, S.C. – Gardner-Webb's early lead proved to be too much as the Runnin' Bulldogs started Big South play with a 16-12 win at Presbyterian. This win is the first time in school history that the team has started conference play with a win.
 
 The Blue Hose scored the first goal of the game with a Kelly Hyman goal that was less than a minute into the game. After this, Gardner-Webb rattled off six-goals-in-a-row to take the lead in the match. Talen Francis opened the scoring for the 'Dogs scored with a goal at the 22:58 mark off an assist from Jada Preston. The assist marked Preston's 100^th career point.
 
Following this score, Hannah Smith buried a woman-up opportunity to gain the lead for the team. The other goals in this run were scored by Francis (2), Tori Birks, Aimie Perino.
 
Presbyterian stopped the run with a woman-up goal at the 12:59 mark, but the Runnin' Bulldogs answered this with five unanswered goals. Gately scored her second of the day off a dish from Birks to start the scoring stretch. Hailey Maranto and Preston scored back-to-back goals less than a minute apart to push the lead to 9-2. Gabby Zerna and Birks each scored heading into half to further the Runnin' Bulldogs lead.
 
Gardner-Webb's offense slowed in the second half, and Presbyterian started converting on many opportunities. A four-goal run by the Blue Hose from the 12:06 to the 8:30 marks cut the Runnin' Bulldogs lead to 13-10. Gardner-Webb netted the next three to push the lead to a six-goal lead.
 
Gardner-Webb converted on 13-14 clear attempts and only allowed Presbyterian to succeed on 14 of their 21. The Runnin' Bulldogs finished the day with a +7 turnovers margin.
 
Perino and Francis led the team with three goals apiece. Preston, Birks, and Zerna each contributed two. Gardner-Webb's Gately, Maranto, Smith, and Ciarra Ashworth all scored one.
 
Preston's three assists topped the team, while Francis, Birks, Gately, Maranto, Smith, and Jessica Vetter dished one apiece.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs won the groundball battle 20-14. Gately, Perino, and Janice Donaldson had three, and Mackey finished with two. Smith, Francis, Maddie Martin, Heather Lobas, Birks, Preston, Mackenzie Gallery, Brittany Sherrod, and Jayla Middlebrooks had one apiece.
 
Of the 21 Presbyterian turnovers, ten were caused by the Runnin' Bulldogs. Gately and Smith tied for tops on the team with two. Perino, Donaldson, Francis, Martin, Lobas, and Ashworth each had one.
 
Gardner-Webb had a narrow lead in draw controls in the game at 16-14. Birks was first on the team with four draw controls. Francis, Martin, and Vetter had three draw controls. Gately finished with two, and Maranto had one. 
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs return to action on Sunday for a home conference game against Winthrop with a first draw scheduled for 2:00 p.m.