BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.  – The Gardner-Webb women's basketball team opens the 2023-2024 season on Wednesday night at the University of North Carolina, tipping in Carmichael Arena at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday's game will air live on the Varsity Network App, GWUSports Live Listen, and ESPNCLT.com with Phil Constantino and Chip Carter calling the action for the Runnin' Bulldogs Sports Network. The game will also stream live on ESPN+ (WatchESPN.com) on ACC Network Xtra, with Daron Vaught, Nick Klos, and Isabella Geskos on that call.
 
First-year head coach Scott Merritt enters November with a young and quick roster to lead the Runnin' Bulldogs this season. Joining Merritt from the University of Wisconsin sideline is assistant coach Katie Nelson, also joining is assistant coach Lauren Holden from Fordham University and tenured assistant coach Jonath Nicholas from St. John's University.
 
Gardner-Webb loses a lot of its scoring from last season, but returns senior guard Micahla Funderburk, sophomore forward Grace Pack, and sophomore guard Cecilee Silver to its roster.
 
Merritt brought in some big help at the point guard position starting with junior guard Ashley Hawkins from Cypress College. Hawkins, a native of Long Beach, California, averaged 23.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.8 steals, and shot 33.5 percent from behind the arc with the Chargers. Hawkins also popped off for a 51-point game with 11 rebounds against Ventura College in her time with the Chargers. Sophomore guard Nyla Walker joins Gardner-Webb after one year at fellow Big South opponent, USC Upstate, where she appeared in 29 games and made six starts.
 
Graduate student forward Ramatoulaye Keita from the University of Buffalo and sophomore forward Trinity Moreland from the University of Missouri-Kansas City will provide a needed interior presence for the 'Dawgs after joining the program this summer.
 
Gardner-Webb also signed a quintet of high school prospects in guard Kayla Martin (St. Francis Prep), guard Amina Gray (Example Academy), guard Lauren Bailey (Greeneville HS), guard Anaya Harris (North Raleigh Christian Academy), and forward Andrea Martinez (Boet Mataró).
 
The 2023-2024 non-conference slate includes five home games, highlighted by a matchup with the University of Florida on Dec. 17, the program's first home game versus a Power 5 opponent since the 2010-2011 season. The home opener is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 11 vs. Elon University. The home schedule also includes matchups with the University of Richmond (Nov. 15), Furman University (Nov. 29), and Appalachian State University (Dec. 15).
 
Conference play features a 16-game, double round-robin format starting on Jan. 6 when the 'Dawgs welcome High Point University to Boiling Springs. Gardner-Webb will also host conference foes Radford University (Jan. 17), Longwood University (Jan. 24), USC Upstate (Jan. 27), Presbyterian College (Feb. 7), Charleston Southern University (Feb. 14), UNC Asheville (Feb. 24), and Winthrop University (Mar. 2) inside Paul Porter Arena. 
 
Road league contests include games at Charleston Southern (Jan. 10), Presbyterian (Jan. 13), Winthrop (Jan. 20), UNC Asheville (Jan. 31), High Point (Feb. 10), USC Upstate (Feb. 17), Radford (Feb. 21) and Longwood (Feb. 28).
 
Gardner-Webb enters 2023-2024 off of a record-setting campaign. Last season, the Runnin' Bulldogs posted a 29-5 overall mark, setting a Big South Conference and program record for wins in a season. The 'Dawgs stormed through the conference tournament compiling a 21-0 combined record in conference regular-season and postseason games, a record for Big South wins in a season. Gardner-Webb's Big South Championship was the program's first since 2011 and second in its 21-year Division I history. The historic season came to an end in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, closing the season with an .853 winning percentage, also a new program record.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs finished the regular season ranked No. 9 in College Insider Inc.'s Mid-Major Poll, the highest in-season ranking ever by a Big South basketball team. Gardner-Webb's 21-game winning streak from Dec. 29 – March 5 set a program record for consecutive wins. The 'Dawgs also finished the year 13-0 at Paul Porter Arena and enter this upcoming season having won 18 consecutive home games.

Following Wednesday's opener, Gardner-Webb returns home to host Elon University on Saturday, November 11 (1:00 pm). 
 
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.