ROCK HILL, S.C. – Gardner-Webb fell in its season finale at Winthrop, 21-11, on a rainy Saturday afternoon. Long scoring stretches in both the first and second halves gave the Eagles the advantage they needed to get the win.
 
Brittany Sherrod netted the first 'Dogs goal after an assist by Hannah Smith to tie the match at 1. After this, the Eagles scored eight-in-a-row to take a 9-1 lead. Gabby Zerna scored the next, followed by another Winthrop goal.
 
Heading into the half, goals by Talen Francis, Zerna, and Smith cut the lead to five goals. Coming out of the halftime break, Birks scored one and assisted on an Eilish Gately goal to cut the lead to three.
 
Sherrod and Birks each had shots hit the back of the cage before Winthrop stretched their lead out more after a 7-0 run. After the run, the score stood at 20-9 before the next Runnin' Bulldogs goal.
 
In the closing minutes of the match, Gately netted her 27^th goal of the season off a Hailey Maranto assist, while Francis scored her 35^th.
 
Winthrop put 96% of their shots on cage while Gardner-Webb had 65% on target.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs finished the day with a 20-13 advantage in draw controls, led by Maddie Martin with 13. Francis and Smith each had two. Gately, Maranto, and Jessica Vetter had one apiece.
 
Gardner-Webb had six different goal scorers, five of which had multiple goals. Francis, Birks, Zerna, Gately, and Sherrod finished with two. Smith also finished with a goal.
 
Seven of the goals scored came off assists, Maranto led the team with two. Francis, Birks, Zerna, Gately, and Smith had one apiece.
 
Of the 18 Eagles turnovers, half were directly caused by the 'Dogs defensive play. Francis and Birks each caused two. Grace Briggs, Aimie Perino, Mackenzie Gallery, Lauren Connor, and Zerna all forced one.
 
Briggs finished first on the team with four groundballs, and Francis followed behind with three. Birks, Perino, Smith, Emily Rowell, and Jada Preston also had one each.
 
 The match was the last game for Gardner-Webb for its 2021 campaign. The team finished the season 4-10 overall, and 1-5 within the Big South.