HIGH POINT, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb women's basketball team (6-23, 5-11 Big South) opens postseason play on Wednesday evening versus No. 9-seed UNC Asheville (10-19, 4-12 Big South) in the first round of the Big South Conference Tournament. Opening tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Qubein Center in High Point, North Carolina.
 
The game will be televised on ESPN+, with Evan Lepler (pxp) and Sarah Jansen (analyst) calling the action. Radio coverage is available on the Varsity Network App and espnclt.com via the Runnin' Bulldogs Sports Network, with Phil Constantino on the call.
 
The winner of Wednesday's first-round game will advance to meet top-seeded High Point University in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 7, at 11:30 a.m.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs have claimed the Big South Tournament title two-times during the program's 16-year tenure in the league (2011 & 2023). The 'Dawgs last cut down the nets last season, defeating High Point 74-61 in the championship game to complete the first 21-0 season in conference history.
 
Wednesday marks the 44^th meeting between Gardner-Webb and UNC Asheville. The two sides split the season series, with the Runnin' Bulldogs claiming the most recent meeting, 80-65, on Feb. 24 at Paul Porter Arena. Gardner-Webb leads the all-time series 28-15, having won 10 of the last 11 meetings.
 
Asheville's 72-58 victory earlier this season on Jan. 31 was the Bulldogs' first win over Gardner-Webb since a 72-56 conference tournament triumph on Mar. 14, 2019. Gardner-Webb claimed the most recent conference tournament meeting, 82-58, in last season's quarterfinals ending UNC Asheville's season.
 
Gardner-Webb is led by Ashley Hawkins, who was named a first-team all-conference selection, the Big South's Newcomer of the Year, and Scholar-Athlete of the Year on Tuesday. A management major with a 3.95 GPA, Hawkins currently ranks top five in the conference in six different statistical categories (15.1 PPG – 3^rd, 5.7 APG – 1^st, 41.3% FG – 3^rd, 80.4% FT – 2^nd, 1.3 A/TO – 1^st, 33.6 MPG – 1^st).
 
Anaya Harris was named Big South Freshman of the Year and Lauren Bailey was named an all-freshman selection.
 
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.