BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Radford pulled away early for a 14-9 Big South Conference victory over the Runnin' Bulldogs. Jada Preston and Eilish Gately led the team with three points each.
 
Gately opened the scoring of the day off an assist from Hailey Maranto 17 seconds into the match. After the Highlanders' first goal of the day, Preston scored, unassisted, to regain the lead for Gardner-Webb.
 
After Preston's goal, Radford scored the next six to take a 7-2 lead. The scoring stretch lasted from the 21:08 to 3:52 marks in the first half. Right before the end of the first half, Maranto netted an unassisted goal to cut the lead to four. Talen Francis tallied her lone goal of the game less than two minutes into the second half. This score cut the Highlanders' advantage to three, the smallest the margin got to in the remainder of the game.
 
Gardner-Webb scored back-to-back twice in the scored half, attempting to cut into the margin, but two three-goal stretches by Radford kept the 'Dogs at bay. 
 
Kathleen Mackey played the full 60 minutes between the pipes for the Runnin' Bulldogs, making 11 saves on the day. Mackey only allowed the Highlanders to score on four of their 12 free-position shots.
 
Gately and Tori Birks each finished with two goals. Francis, Preston, Maranto, Jessica Vetter, and Gabby Zerna tallied a score apiece.
 
Preston led the team with two assists, while Gately, Maranto, and Vetter had one each.
 
Radford had a clear advantage in groundballs, 29-14. Birks, Ciarra Ashworth, Mackey, Emily Rowell had two. Preston, Maranto, Mackenzie Gallery, Janice Donaldson, and Lauren Connor finished with one apiece. 
 
Gardner-Webb finished with a narrow lead in draw controls, 13-12. Francis led the team with seven. Birks and Hannah Smith secured two each, while Gately and Vetter had one apiece.
 
Of the 15 Radford turnovers, five were caused by the 'Dogs. Lobas had two, while Mackey, Connor, and Maddie Martin had one each.
 
Gardner-Webb will be back in action on April 7 to host Presbyterian at 7:00 p.m. This will be played as a non-conference match and will not count towards either of their Big South Conference records.