CHARLOTTE, N.C.  – The Big South Conference has released Gardner-Webb's conference schedule for the 2023-2024 season. The 'Dawgs complete 29-game slate includes 13 home games, eight conference games and five non-conference games.
 
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).
 
"I'm excited to compete against all the great teams and coaches in the Big South," said Merritt. "The Big South does a great job of putting the schedule together and I'm looking forward to our first conference matchup on Jan. 6."
 
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 Runnin' Bulldogs season-opener is on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at the University of North Carolina versus a Tarheels team that earned a six-seed in last year's NCAA Tournament. 
 
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).
 
"We have a very challenging non-conference schedule and we are looking forward to being able to compete with some of the best teams in the country," said Scott Merritt. "We are excited about the challenge and we look forward to every single game."
 
The Big South Tournament will be held in High Point, North Carolina., March 6-10. at the Qubein Center.
 
Ticket information will be available at a later date and can be found on GWUsports.com.

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.
 
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.