CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Alasia Smith scored 17 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead Gardner-Webb to a 62-58 win at Austin Peay Thursday on the road.

The Runnin' Bulldogs (5-2) had three in double figures in the win and used suffocating defensive pressure to overcome foul trouble and the Governors (4-4). Jhessyka Williams and Ki'Ari Cain each scored 11 points and Layken Cox scored nine to go with eight rebounds in the win.

GWU led 30-27 at halftime after a 21-16 effort in the second quarter erased an early deficit. Austin Peay shot 45.5 percent in the third quarter and surged back in front ater 30 minutes, but Gardner-Webb had plenty left in the tank.

Cain scored seven of her points in the final quarter, going 7-of-8 at the free throw line and Williams made five free throws to help the Runnin' Bulldogs to victory.

The back-and-forth game was tied at 51-51 with 6:20 left and Austin Peay stretched to a 54-51 lead with just under five to play before a Tiir Nyok jumper cut the margin back to one.

Neither team scored until 3:34 remained in the game, and Smith drained a three to put Gardner-Webb back in front 56-54. A layup by the Govs' Ashlei Kirven with 3:01 left tied the game again, but a pair of Williams free throws gave GWU a slight edge with 2:13 to go.

Two strong defensive possessions by Gardner-Webb kept the lead intact, but Shamarre Hale's layup with 36.2 seconds left tied the game at 58. The Runnin' Bulldogs countered by going to Williams, who was fouled with 23 seconds remaining. She calmly made the first to give Gardner-Webb a lead that it would not relinquish.

Cain made a free throw with 17 seconds left and knocked down two more with five seconds left after another critical defensive stop by the Runnin' Bulldogs. Austin Peay's last chance to take the lead was thwarted by a block from Cox on a three-pointer and Cain was fouled on the rebound to set up her last free throws.

The Governors missed another three near the buzzer with the game out of reach.

Gardner-Webb shot 33.3 percent for the game (19-of-57), but held a rebounding edge with 16 second-chance points (+10 scoring margin). GWU scored 19 points off of Austin Peay turnovers – with 18 of the Govs' 29 miscues coming on steals. 

In addition to her near double-double, Cox blocked three shots and had two steals. Smith, Cain and Williams each had five steals for Gardner-Webb.

Yamia Johnson led Austin Peay with 17 points, but the Governors could not overcome their turnover woes – despite shooting 46.8 from the floor (22-of-47).

Gardner-Webb will remain on the road, flying to California for the 2022 B.A.R. Invitational on Saturday and Sunday. GWU faces off with SMU on Saturday at 4:00 pm (ET).

The game will air live on ESPNCLT.com, with Phil Constantino handling the radio call.