BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb University women's basketball team (3-10, 0-1 Big South) opened Big South Conference play on Thursday night inside Paul Porter Arena, where a double-digit halftime lead eventually gave way to a 67-65 defeat in the final seconds to visiting Charleston Southern (5-9, 1-0 Big South)

The Runnin' Bulldogs, as they had against Queens just before the holiday break, started out well and jumped in front 20-17 after 10 minutes of play. Despite much of the later contest centering on defense, missed shots and turnovers, Gardner-Webb began the night with four three point makes. Sophomore guard Elle Blatchford showed off the range early with eight points to pace GWU, while graduate forward Elze Motekaityte scored eight of her own, each with two made threes.

Despite the GWU offense cooling off some and scoring just 13 second quarter points, the Runnin' Bulldogs sprinted to a 33-22 halftime lead after holding Charleston Southern to just 2-of-22 from the floor and 1-of-11 from three in the stanza. The 'Dawgs held CSU scoreless for nearly five minutes to start the quater and three minutes to finish, allowing Elze Motekaityte to push the Gardner-Webb lead to double figures with a short jumper ahead of the halftime buzzer.

Behind 19 third quarter points, Gardner-Webb would enter the fourth up 52-41. To get us to this point, the 'Dawgs turned to senior guard Ashley Hawkins. The Long Beach, Calif. native scored nine straight points down the stretch in the third quarter, helping a Gardner-Webb offense that had otherwise gone stagnant. The Runnin' Bulldogs managed just a 5-of-16 third quarter clip yet still remained in control up 11.

The visiting Buccaneers did draw their way back in the fourth quarter, taking CSU's first lead of the game with just 46 seconds remaining. The Runnin' Bulldogs led by as many as 14 early in the fourth, and by 11 still with 8:22 left. In route to a comeback, Charleston Southern held Gardner-Webb with just four points over the final 6:40 of game time.

In the waning seconds, GWU battled back to take the lead after Hawkins floated home a jumper with just 30 seconds remaining, 65-64. However, on the other end, Charleston Southern connected on a difficult and-one with 10 seconds remaining to flip the score back, 67-65. The Runnin' Bulldogs forced a miss and looked to grab what would have been a nearly-game-winning rebound, but a subsequent turnover immediately after allowed CSU one last chance, which was put in the basket. One last chance wouldn't fall for Gardner-Webb to force overtime, as Charleston Southern handed GWU a 67-65 loss.

Leaders for Gardner-Webb include Hawkins with 17 points, three rebounds, three assists, Blatchford with 14 points on 4-of-7 from three, Motekaityte with 14 points and 11 rebounds for another double-double, and freshman center Maja Rohkohl who scored eight points while grabbing 11 rebounds

Big South Conference play continues on Saturday, January 4th as the Runnin' Bulldogs travel south to face Presbyterian College at 2 p.m.