BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.  –Gardner-Webb's women's basketball continues non-conference play with UNC Charlotte on Friday night, November 17 at 6:30 p.m. tipping off in the Dale F. Halton Arena. Friday's game will air live on the Varsity Network App, GWUSports.com/listenlive, and ESPNCLT.com with Mark Binetti and Phil Constantino calling the action for the Runnin' Bulldogs Sports Network. The game will also stream live on ESPN+ (WatchESPN.com).
 
'DAWG WATCH
Head coach Scott Merritt guides the 'Dawgs in his first season to their fourth game of the season with the 49ers, after an 0-3 opening to the 2023-24 season.
 
After three non-conference games, junior guard Ashley Hawkins averages 31 minutes, 14 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds per game, and is shooting 40 percent from the field. Hawkins has yet to score below double-digits in the three games for Gardner-Webb this season. Senior guard Micahla Funderburk and freshman guard Lauren Bailey sit below Hawkins in points with 9.0 and 8.7 per game. Bailey has started to heat up for the Runnin' Bulldogs scoring 10 versus Elon University and 11 this Wednesday against Richmond University.
 
Graduate student forward Ramatoulaye Keita has commanded the glass for GWU with a team-high and 6th in the Big South, 6.3 rebounds per game. Forward and reigning freshman of the week, Andrea Martinez, holds averages of 7.3 points and five rebounds per game to help Gardner-Webb on both sides of the ball.
 
'DAWGS ENTER NINER TERRITORY
The Charlotte 49ers enter Friday's game at 2-1 with an 84-43 loss to NC State, an 84-35 win over Tennessee State University, and an 67-51 win over Big South foe UNC Asheville on Tuesday. Last season Charlotte posted a record of 12-19 falling in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Championships to Middle Tennessee State 84-53. Charlotte leads the all-time series against the Runnin' Bulldogs 5-2 with the 49ers 2-0 against the 'Dawgs under Head Coach Cara Consuegra. The last matchup came on December 3, 2021, when Charlotte beat Gardner-Webb 79-57 in the Halton Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina.
 
CHUCKTOWN NEXT
Following this end-of-the-week away trip against the 49ers, Gardner-Webb will stay on the road to face the College of Charleston on Monday, Nov. 20 at 7:00 p.m.
 
Times and television coverage for all Gardner-Webb women's basketball games can be found at gwusports.com. For more information on the Gardner-Webb women's basketball team, fans can follow the team on X at @GWU_WBK or on Instagram at @gwu_wbk.