BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb rallied from a 14-point deficit on Saturday afternoon to defeat UNCG 83-66 and pick up their first win of the season in their home opener.
 
UNCG broke out to an early double-digit lead in the first quarter, leading by as many as 14 points six minutes into the game after a pair of three-pointers from the visitors. Ki'Ari Cain knocked down the first shot from deep as he pulled up from the logo as time expired in the first quarter.
 
The second quarter saw the Runnin' Bulldogs start to clip more into the Spartans' lead. GWU cut it down to 34-33 after Jhessyka Williams knocked down a buzzer-beater three of her own to end the quarter. Williams tallied eight points in the final 2:01 to close out a 13-point performance in the half.
 
Gardner-Webb took their first lead of the game at the beginning of the third as the 'Dogs went on a 12-point swing to lead 45-37 before the Spartans scored another basket. The quarter ended with Lauren Bevis hitting a floater in the paint in the final seconds as GWU took a 58-49 into the final 10 minutes.
 
The Spartans were able to trim their deficit to six points in the fourth with less than seven minutes to play but were never able to draw closer. Gardner-Webb led by double-digits in the last five of the game, having as high of an advantage as 19 before the final whistle.
 
Williams led the team in scoring and rebounding with an eye-popping 28 and 12 for her first double-double of the season. Alasia Smith added 21, cashing in on nine attempts at the charity stripe, and finishing with four steals. Bevis and Cain also finished in double figures as they had 17 and 11.
 
As a team, GWU shot 50% from the floor (29-58) and 38% from deep (6-16). As a team, GWU outrebounded UNCG 40-29 with 17 coming off the offensive glass.  
 
Next up for Gardner-Webb is a game at Furman on Tuesday, November 15 with a tipoff slated for 7:00 p.m. inside Timmons Arena.