BOILING SPRINGS – Jhessyka Williams scored a game-high 22 points and Ki'Ari Cain had 17 to lead Gardner-Webb to a big second half and a 67-61 win over High Point Saturday afternoon in Paul Porter Arena.

Williams scored 16 in the decisive second half, which saw Gardner-Webb (10-4, 2-0 Big South) rally from behind. 

High Point (3-9, 1-1 Big South) led 44-39 with 1:28 to play in the third, but saw the Runnin' Bulldogs close on a 7-0 run behind Williams and Cain. Williams converted a three-point play with 47.3 seconds left to tie the game and Cain sank two free throws with 8.0 seconds left for the lead. 

Gardner-Webb would not trail again.

Williams stretched the lead to 50-46 with another layup early in the fourth and the Runnin' Bulldogs took advantage of a quickness edge to get downhill to the rim – and to the free throw line.

Cain made three free throws in a row – on two different trips – to put Gardner-Webb up 60-51 with 4:07 to play, driving hard to the paint each time.

High Point didn't go away quietly, as back-to-back threes made the score 60-57 with 2:38 left. Lauren Bevis sank two more free throws with 2:13 to play to create some cushion, and converted her own three-point play in the paint with 44.3 seconds left for a 65-58 lead.

The Panthers got another late bucket from long range, but it was too late – and Gardner-Webb improved to 5-0 in Paul Porter Arena this season. It was the fourth win in a row over High Point for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

High Point rallied from an early deficit to lead 12-10 after the first period, and created separation with two three-pointers late in the second quarter for a 29-25 lead at halftime.

Williams kept Gardner-Webb within striking distance early in the third, scoring six points over the first four minutes before the Runnin' Bulldogs made their move to seize control of the game.

Gardner-Webb shot 41.2 percent for the game (21-of-51) and connected on 21 free throws. GWU connected at the line when it counted, making 14-of-20 free throws in the second half and 11-of-15 in the fourth quarter.

The Runnin' Bulldogs also owned the backboards with a 43-24 edge, with Alasia Smith corraling 18 rebounds by herself. Smith scored just six points, but was effective on the defensive end and on the glass.

In addition to another big game from Williams – who added 13 rebounds – Gardner-Webb got 17 points from Cain and 14 from Bevis.

High Point kept itself in the game from long distance, nailing 10-of-26 from deep (38.5 percent). The Panthers made only free throws (3-of-5) and were led Saturday by wing Skyler Curran's 16 points. Callie Scheier came off the bench to score 12 points and Nakyah Terrell scored 11.

Gardner-Webb will be back in action on Wednesday night, hosting Campell at 7:00 pm in Paul Porter Arena.