BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb fell to High Point in the team's regular-season finale on Wednesday afternoon by a 23-14 score. The loss puts the 'Dogs at 9-8 on the year and 5-4 in the Big South.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs' Eilish Gately scored the first goal of the day just 38 seconds into the match, giving GWU the early 1-0 lead. The Panthers scored the next, but Gardner-Webb's Reese Jones responded with a goal to retake the lead. High Point rallied off three unanswered to take their first lead of the game. Maddie Martin netted a score in the waning seconds of the first to cut the Panthers' lead to one.
 
High Point outscored Gardner-Webb by a goal in the second quarter to push their lead to 12-10. The Panthers had their largest lead of the first half (3) in the final thirty seconds off an Abby Hormes goal. Martin won the following draw and with five seconds left in the period, Lauren Deaver found Martin in front of the net for her second of the day.
 
In the second half, the Panthers scored the first seven of the second half to take control of the game, only allowing the 'Dogs to score one in the third. HPU's Abby Hormes tallied four of the Panthers' eight during the third quarter. Each team registered three goals in the final period of play.
 
Jada Preston tallied four on the day to lead the team. Gately was next finishing with three, and Martin had two. Jess Vetter, Brittany Sherrod, Bria Foley, Ciarra Ashworth, and Jones each had one. Preston also had the team-high in assists with two. Alera Cornett, Deaver, Vetter, and Foley finished with one apiece.
 
Gardner-Webb had more draw controls than High Point on the day, winning 22-19 in this category. Martin, Deaver, and Foley each finished the game with seven. Heather Lobas added one.
 
High Point finished the game with 13 turnovers, ten being caused by the defense of the 'Dogs. Grace Briggs and Lobas caused three turnovers apiece. Lauren Connor, Gately, Martin, and Sherrod had one each.
 
Mackenzie Gallery, Briggs, and Deaver finished the game scooping three groundballs each. Sherrod and Lobas had two apiece. Vetter, Connor, Foley, Cornett, and Danielle Burke each finished with one.
 
Gardner-Webb will now turn its attention to the Big South Tournament with the first-round matchup on Saturday, April 30. The opponent for the game will be announced once all the games have been completed later tonight by the Big South.