BOILING SPRINGS –
Jhessyka Williams scored 27 points for the second game in a row to power Gardner-Webb to a 67-59 win over East Carolina Tuesday morning in Paul Porter Arena.
Michahla Funderburk added a career-high 16 points – draining 4-of-9 from deep – and
Ki'Ari Cain scored 10 points to go with six rebounds and six assists to pace the Runnin' Bulldogs (8-3). Gardner-Webb also improved to 4-0 in Paul Porter Arena with the win.
Gardner-Webb trailed 49-46 when Funderburk sparked the game-changing rally by sinking a corner three with 5:18 to play to tie the game. That was the first blow in a 21-8 run that saw the Runnin' Bulldogs lead by as many as 10 points in the final 30 seconds of play.
The two teams went back and forth following Funderburk's initial trey, until
Lauren Bevis knocked down a three from the right corner with 2:35 left to give Gardner-Webb a 58-55 lead that it would not give up. An old-fashioned three-point play from Williams with 1:39 to play put Gardner-Webb up 62-57 and the 'Dogs extended the lead further with strong defense, rebounding a free throw shooting in the final 90 seconds.
Williams, who has been on a tear of late, scored Gardner-Webb's first eight points on Thursday and finished 11-of-17 from the floor with 11 rebounds, two assists and four steals in 39 minutes. The team was +12 with Williams on the court. She scored 10 points in the decisive fourth quarter.
The Augusta, Ga., redshirt senior is averaging 17.6 points and 9.7 rebounds this season for the preseason Big South Conference favorites.
Gardner-Webb shot 40.7 percent for the game and overcame 21 turnovers by forcing 25 by the Pirates – who shot just 37.1 percent for the game and only 1-of-13 from long range (7.7 percent).
Amiya Joyner came off the bench to lead the Pirates (7-4) with 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Danae McNeal added eight and Morgan Moseley scored six.
Gardner-Webb will rest over the weekend and get back to action on the road Tuesday, December 20 at Appalachian State in the team's final non-conference tilt of the regular season.
