BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.  – The Gardner-Webb women's basketball team face off with its first Big South Conference battle of the season when High Point University travel to Boiling Springs on Saturday, January 5 at 1:00 p.m. The game will air live on the Varsity Network App, GWUSports.com/listenlive, and ESPNCLT.com with Rob Longo 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 bringing you the action.
 
'DAWG WATCH
Head Coach Scott Merritt walks his 'Dawgs back into Paul Porter Arena to matchup with the Panthers aiming for GWU's second win and Merritt's first win in the Big South.
 
'Dawgs junior guard Ashley Hawkins leads the pack in scoring with an average of 14.5 points (4^th in the Big South), 4.8 assists (t-1^st in the Big South), and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 42 percent from the field (2^nd in the Big South) and knocking down 82 percent from the charity stripe (2^nd in the Big South). Hawkins still remains the only player to record double-digit assists in a game for the Big South when she tied the single-game program record for assists with 11 on Nov. 20 against the College of Charleston.
 
Sharpshooter guards senior Micahla Funderburk and freshman Lauren Bailey tail Hawkins in points for GWU averaging 8.8. Bailey averages a 38 three-point percentage (1^st in the Big South). Graduate student forward Ramatoulaye Keita continues to handle the glass for the 'Dawgs with seven per game (4^th in the Big South).
 
RAINING CATS & DOGS
High Point enter Saturday's game with a (5-9, 0-1) record, opening their season with three wins and one loss to #8 Virginia Tech (94-54). The Panthers competed with three big opponents in the Virgin Islands ultimately falling to South Florida (61-32), #12 Texas (101-39), and Arizona State (77-69). HPU has also had tight results in their last few battles including: an overtime loss to Norfolk State (85-71), a one-point win over Campbell (48-47), and a four-point loss to Radford to open up conference play. 
 
Last season, High Point posted a record of 17-15 falling in the Big South Tournament Championship to Gardner-Webb (74-61). The Panthers went on to play in the WNIT, falling in the opening round to Clemson (66-46). This is the 43^rd meeting between Gardner-Webb and High Point while the Panthers lead the series 22-20. The last meeting between the two came in the Big South Tournament Championship last postseason and the Panther's last win came on March 11, 2021 with a score of 75-58 in High Point, N.C. The last time HPU won in Boiling Springs was January 12, 2019. Returning to the Paul Porter Arena is Big South Preseason Player of the Year, Lauren Bevis, who played her first four seasons as a Runnin' Bulldog. She averages 14.7 points and remains at the top of the league in multiple Big South statistical areas. 
 
GWU CONTINUES BIG SOUTH ACTION
After this Saturday's matchup with the Panthers, Gardner-Webb suits up for its first road contest in Big South play visiting Charleston Southern on Wednesday, January 10 at 6:00 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.