CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb University women's basketball team led at the half on Thursday night at Halton Arena and carried it deep into the third quarter but falters late in a loss to Charlotte.

Gardner-Webb started strong on Thursday night on the campus of UNC Charlotte, led in the first half by some great guard play. Senior guard Ashley Hawkins spurred on the Runnin' Bulldogs offense who, despite starting just 3/15 from the floor, were able to attack the basketball to the tune of 7/10 from the free throw line in the first ten minutes. After one, the Red and Black trailed just 18-14 in a competitive contest. Sophomore guard Anaya Harris also played some big early minutes, highlighted by a steal at the opposition free throw line with 2:35 remaining, which she finished unassisted on the other end.

The Runnin' Bulldogs really found footing on offense in the second quarter however, led by sophomore guard Elle Blatchford. On the way to a halftime lead, Gardner-Webb outscored Charlotte 18-13 and got its last seven points in a row from Blatchford. The Canton, Ga. native scorched two made three pointers and a crafty mid-range jumper in the final 1:17 of the half, including a buzzer-beating three to go into the locker room, as the Runnin' Bulldogs turned around a six-point deficit into a 32-31 halftime advantage.

In the third, the Runnin' Bulldogs turned to freshman center Maja Rohkohl for her biggest minutes of the season. From what was a one-point lead, Gardner-Webb used seven straight points from the Hannover, Germany product including a tough and-one opportunity with 7:30 to go. Closing in on the third quarter media, the Runnin' Bulldogs led 41-33 on the road. Hawkins and sophomore guard Lauren Bailey found the range on back-to-back three pointers as GWU pushed on to its biggest lead of the night. Charlotte did close with a lengthy run over the next six minutes however, aided by an 11/13 mark at the free throw line and some Gardner-Webb foul trouble. After three quarters, the Runnin' Bulldogs trailed 56-50.

Despite seeming to find the spark at times in the fourth, the Runnin' Bulldogs would be unable to turn over the deficit in what became an 83-67 defeat. With 8:34 remaining, Hawkins brought GWU as close as they'd come in the final stanza, stepping into her third made three of the night on four attempts to cut the Charlotte lead to just 58-53. But with the Runnin' Bulldogs saddled with foul trouble, Charlotte was able to close the door with 21 points either at the paint or at the free throw line across the final 8:00 of play.

Leaders for Gardner-Webb include Hawkins with 19 points, three assists, Blatchford with 12 points including those two made threes, Rohkohl who tied a season-high with nine points to go next to eight rebounds, and graduate forward Elze Motekaityte who scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds.

The Runnin' Bulldogs return to action on Saturday afternoon at Paul Porter Arena, hosting Johnson C. Smith at 1:00 o'clock