BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb University women's basketball team got 49 second half points on Saturday afternoon inside Paul Porter Arena, turning a one score game into an 88-67 rout over Johnson C. Smith

The Runnin' Bulldogs (2-5, 0-0 Big South) certainly didn't get off to the start they hoped for on Saturday afternoon, with visiting Johnson C. Smith (3-2, 0-0 CIAA) firing on all cylinders and leading 11-2 by the 7:17 mark of the first quarter. However after a quick timeout, GWU seemed to find its footing, responding with a 13-0 run over the next 4:30 to build a 15-11 lead. Sophomore guard Anaya Harris proved crucial early on, with multiple big defensive plays leading to six points on the aforementioned Gardner-Webb run. The Golden Bulls did battle back, but a personal 6-0 run by senior guard Ashley Hawkins across the final 3:08 saw GWU lead 19-17 after one.

The two sides would trade buckets throughout the second quarter, eventually leading to a halftime lead for Gardner-Webb. In the second quarter alone, the Runnin' Bulldogs shot a solid 9-of-19, countered by just three made field goals but an 11-of-14 mark from the free throw line from Johnson C. Smith. Sophomore guard Elle Blatchford began to pick up steam in the second, knocking down a pair of three pointers, part of a 4-of-8 day from behind the arc and her second plus-15-points point game of the season so far. Hawkins got a strong floater to go just before the buzzer as the Runnin' Bulldogs led 39-36 at the halftime interval.

In the third, Gardner-Webb began to pull away by outscoring Johnson C. Smith 24-19, also extending its lead to double digits for the first time. Back to back threes from Blatchford and sophomore guard Lauren Bailey saw GWU push its advantage to 50-38 by the 6:39 mark, the largest to this point in the game. While the Golden Bulls were able to inch back by as close as seven points, freshman center Maja Rohkohl collected her own miss in the final 10 seconds and saw the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 63-55 lead after three.

Finally in the fourth, Gardner-Webb would blitz its way to a 25-12 scoring margin and effectively put the game away with a couple minutes to spare. GWU opened the final frame on a 13-2 run over the opening 5:00 minutes, kick-started by a steal and coast-to-coast layup after one of four steals from Hawkins to Harris. When Nyla Walker knocked down one of her two jumpers with 2:08 to play, the Runnin' Bulldogs were out of reach and up by 18. The final couple minutes were academic as the Runnin' Bulldogs iced an 88-67 win with five Kendall Scott free throws.

"It was good to get back in the win column. A lot of kids contributed so I'm happy about that. said head coach Scott Merritt on the Runnin' Bulldogs performance. We've got to clean up some things still, we've got to get better with being disciplined on both ends of the floor, which is a huge focus for us right now. We'll take tomorrow off but can't wait to get back to practice on Monday and get ready for App State on Wednesday. They're playing really well so we're excited about the challenge"

Leaders for Gardner-Webb include Hawkins who posted 20 points, four rebounds, a season-high four steals, and four assists, Blatchford who scored 19 on four made threes and four steals, and Harris who scored 10 points on a season-best 4-of-5 clip from the floor with four rebounds and two blocked shots

The Runnin' Bulldogs now prepare to face App State, scheduled for Wednesday night at 6:30 in the High Country.