BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - In front of 1,500 local elementary school kids on Tuesday morning at Paul Porter Arena, the Gardner-Webb University women's basketball dropped its Education Day contest to visiting ETSU by a final of 44-42

Tuesday's contest would come down to the final possession, despite Gardner-Webb and ETSU combining for just 86 points. While the Runnin' Bulldogs did build a 12 point lead in the third quarter, for much of the game neither side was able to break away from the other behind three point shooting that was just timely enough and stingy defense.

It took the Runnin' Bulldogs until the 6:14 mark in the first quarter to find the scoreboard, finally connecting from graduate forward Elze Motekaityte to make it just a 3-2 game by the first media timeout. The timeout did seem to energize both offenses, with a three out of the break by the visitors eventually giving way to a 6-0 run by the Runnin' Bulldogs, and a first lead for Gardner-Webb after Elle Btachford hit a short jumper with 1:12 remaining. Freshman guard Kendall Scott helped make the play with a great steal at mid-court where one pass later she found Blatchford near the basket. A late layup from ETSU saw the visitors lead 10-8 after one.

Both teams really seemed to find rhythm in the second quarter, particularly the Runnin' Bulldogs who used 20 points and a barrage of three pointers for what eventually became a 12 point cushion, the largest either side would have in the game. Sophomore guards Lauren Bailey and Anaya Harris found the range at 7:28 and 6:41, part of an 11-2 Gardner-Webb run, to see the 'Dawgs in front 23-16 by the second quarter media. Scott continued to be a huge spark off the bench for GWU a few minutes later, finding space for a layup to push Gardner-Webb in front 28-16 with 3:56 to go. ETSU did close with a 9-0 run of its own however, as Gardner-Webb lead at the half for the third time this season, score 28-25.

With offense largely still at a premium, the Runnin' Bulldogs continued to lead until 2:30 to go in the third. After Blatchford put GWU ahead 32-25, the 'Dawgs endured a drought of over 12 minutes without a field goal between the third and fourth quarter, not finding a point away from the free throw line until Harris dropped in a three with 5:30 remaining in the game. Even then though, some opportunistic steals saw the Runnin' Bulldogs trail only 39-36 at the final media horn.

Entering the final 1:30 and down by six, the Runnin' Bulldogs turned to Bailey for her third three of the night to again make it a one possession game, 43-40. A third steal of the night from Harris on the next ETSU possession gave the Runnin' Bulldogs another chance, where Motekaityte and earned and hit two free throws. Suddenly. in the span of 50 seconds, GWU had gone from down six, to down one, with ETSU clinging on to a 43-42 lead and the crowd of Cleveland County youngsters on its feet.

After the Buccaneers missed the front end of a one-and-one with under ten seconds to play, the Runnin' Bulldogs had one last chance at a tie or win. With a well set play, Bailey got free at the top of the key and got off two shots as the seconds ticked off. Both efforts were blocked by ETSU's Meghan Downing as time expired, and Gardner-Webb fell 44-42.

Leaders for Gardner-Webb include Motekaityte with 13 points, six rebounds, and five made field goals, Bailey with 11 points, six rebounds, two steals and a team-best three made threes, and Harris with eight points, three steals to add to one of the best marks in the Big South Conference, and three rebounds.

The Runnin' Bulldogs hit the road this weekend, traveling to Richmond on Friday morning at 11 am and James Madison on Sunday afternoon at 2 pm. Both games can be seen on ESPN Plus.