RICHMOND, VA. – Gardner-Webb knocked off VCU on Monday evening, 61-56, to improve to 7-3 on the year. Jhessyka Williams tallied her fifth double-double on the year with 27 points and 16 rebounds.

The victory saw Williams notch her 750^th career rebound, making her the ninth player in the history of the Big South to record 1,500 points and 750 rebounds.
 
VCU stormed out to an early 6-0 lead at the start of the game before Williams notched GWU's first bucket with three minutes off the clock. GWU ended the first quarter on an 8-0 run to tie it at 14 apiece. The next period saw the teams go back-and-forth before the Rams rattled off seven unanswered to end the half and carry a 32-27 lead into the break.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs tied the game at 39 each at the 1:18 mark in the third. GWU regained the lead for the first time since the 3:23 mark in the first half with seven minutes left to play in regulation following Lauren Bevis' fourth three-pointer of the night.
 
VCU took the lead one more time as Sarah Ti-Biasu knocked down a pair of free throws and a layup to get a 50-48 advantage. Williams was good on back-to-back shots in the paint to tie and regain control of the game. A defensive stop and a made shot from deep by Micahla Funderburk pushed the GWU lead to five, their largest of the night.
 
With 17 seconds left to play, the Rams cut the GWU lead back down to two points, but a fast break layup and free throw by Alasia Smith sealed the road triumph.
 
Williams led all scorers with 27, continuing her sensational season. Bevis added 14 and Smith scored 10. Smith added seven rebounds, with four coming on the offensive glass. Ki'Ari Cain finished the night with a season-high eight assists, giving her 305 for her career.
 
On the defensive end, GWU held VCU to 19-57 (33%) shooting and forced 17 turnovers. The 'Dogs went 21-60 (35%) from the floor and hit on seven of their 23 shots from behind the arc.

The Rams had a narrow 44-40 advantage on the glass. There were seven lead changes, and the game was tied nine different times.
 
Gardner-Webb has a pair of non-conference matchups remaining before Christmas and the start of the Big South slate following the holiday break.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will host East Carolina on Thursday morning, December 15 at 11:00 a.m. in Paul Porter Arena. On Tuesday, December 20, the 'Dogs travel to Boone, N.C., to face another in-state opponent in Appalachian State.