BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb University women's basketball team bested the Lancers of Longwood University on Wednesday night by a final score of 74-59.
Ashley Hawkins posted a double-double as the Runnin' Bulldogs pulled away late in the ballgame to earn their second Big South Conference Victory of the season.
"I think we just stayed together.", said coach Merritt. "We were pretty consistent on both ends of the floor. We made the play whenever it was necessary. Whether it was a rebound, whether it was layup, whether it was free-throws, and I think everyone was locked in and confident in those moments. I was very proud of our response in those moments tonight."
Gardner-Webb got out to an early lead thanks to some sharp shooting from
Micahla Funderburk,
Trinity Moreland, and
Lauren Bailey. The 'Dawgs led 24-13 at the end of the first quarter. The threes kept falling for GWU in the second as
Nyla Walker joined Funderburk in scoring from behind the arch. This allowed the Runnin' Bulldogs to take a 19-point lead into the break, 39-20.
The Runnin' Bulldogs maintained their large lead for most of the third quarter until the Lancers began to close the gap behind solid shooting by Adriana Shipp-Davis. Hawkins and
Grace Pack stayed clutch down the stretch as GWU built back their lead from eight points back to 15 with 5:31 left to go. Gardner-Webb did not lead by less than 14 for the rest of the contest as great free throw shooting brought it home for the 'Dawgs. By the final horn the score was 74-59.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Hawkins recorded her second career double-double for the Runnin' Bulldogs tallying 15 points and 10 assists. Other double-digit scorers for GWU included Pack also scoring 15, Funderburk with 12, and Moreland with 10.
Ramatoulaye Keita was clutch for Gardner-Webb down the stretch as she pulled in 13 rebounds, which led both rosters in the game. She leads the 'Dawgs with 136 on the season.
UP NEXT
The Runnin' Bulldogs will be back in action this Saturday Jan. 27 as they host the University of South Carolina Upstate inside Paul Porter Arena at 1:00 p.m. as the first game of a double-header with the GWU Men's Basketball team for Hoopscoming 2024.
