BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.  – The Gardner-Webb's women's basketball team will host its first home game versus a Power 5 opponent since the 2010-2011 season this Sunday afternoon with SEC member, the University of Florida, at 3:00 p.m. on December 17 in the Paul Porter Arena. The game will air live on the Varsity Network App, GWUSports.com/listenlive, and ESPNCLT.com with Mark Binetti on the call for the Runnin' Bulldogs Sports Network. The games will also stream live on ESPN+ (watchespn.com) with Phil Constantino and Stephen Giles on the call.
 
'DAWG WATCH
First-year Head Coach Scott Merritt leads the Runnin' Bulldogs into this major matchup with the Gators, aiming to build off of his team's first victory this season in the last contest against Appalachian State University, 82-78.
 
With 10 games under the Runnin' Bulldogs belt, junior guard Ashley Hawkins leads the pack in scoring with an average of 16.1 points, 4.9 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 46 percent from the field and knocking down 85 percent from the charity stripe. Hawkins has only been held to below double-digits in one game for Gardner-Webb this season and most recently posted a season-high 28 points in the team's win over App State. At the College of Charleston, she tied the single-game program record for assists with 11 on Nov. 20, which is also the only 10+ assist game among Big South players this season.
 
Freshman guard Lauren Bailey tails Hawkins in points for GWU averaging 9.9 and averages a 41 three-point percentage. Graduate student forward Ramatoulaye Keita has commanded the paint for Gardner-Webb with a team-high seven rebounds per game.
 
THE GATORS IN THE SPRINGS
The Gators enter Sunday's game with a 6-3 overall record, opening their season with four straight wins over Florida Southern College (93-43), North Florida (82-65), Bethune-Cookman (83-69), and Florida A&M (92-54). Florida lost a tight contest with no. 12 Florida State (79-75), but followed up with three straight wins over Purdue (52-49), Columbia (83-81), and Georgia Tech (68-58). The Gators last two contests were close losses against Marshall (91-88) and Tulsa (72-64). Last season, Florida posted a record of 19-15 falling in the first round of the SEC Tournament to Kentucky (72-57), but making it as far as the Great 8 in the WNIT. This is the second meeting between Gardner-Webb and Florida while the 'Dawgs lead the series 1-0. The last meeting between the two came on November 6, 2018 in Gainesville with a score of, 60-58. This was the Gator's home opener that season as well.
 
'DAWGS IN BUCCANEER WATERS
After this Sunday matchup with Florida, Gardner-Webb hits the road to Johnson City, Tennessee on Wednesday to face East Tennessee State, on Dec. 20 at 5:00 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.