ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb University women's basketball team continued to find its stride in Big South Conference play on Wednesday night, winning for the third time in four games with a double-digit road victory at UNC Asheville

Offense would turn out to be the story on Wednesday night in Asheville, with the Runnin' Bulldogs shooting 42% across 30 made field goals, 21 of which came in the paint. GWU also had to hold off an above-shooting night from UNC Asheville, who knocked down 11 three pointers in the contest.

GWU only trailed in the contest inside the opening 30 seconds, opening the night on a 13-4 run. Despite UNC Asheville closing to a one-possession game on multiple occasions in the second quarter, once sophomore guards Lauren Bailey and Elle Blatchford connected on back to back threes with 2:18 remaining before halftime, Gardner-Webb was back up 34-23.

From there, UNC Asheville only ever cut the 'Dawgs lead to six after halftime. A pair of late free throws from senior guard Ashley Hawkins gave the Runnin' Bulldogs a game-high lead of 14 with under a minute to play, just before GWU closed out a 77-65 victory away from home.

The Runnin' Bulldogs turned  Hawkins for much of the night on offense. The Long Beach, Calif. native was just shy of a triple double, scoring 26 points, dishing out 10 assists, grabbing five rebounds, and recording a career-high mark of seven steals. Hawkins was particularly effective in a 26-point Runnin' Bulldogs third quarter, scoring 12.

Bailey also continued a good stretch of play since the calendar turned to January, finishing as the team's second leading scorer behind 19 points, four made threes, playing all 40 minutes of the contest. Bailey also tied a season-high with eight rebounds to go along with her third game in a row with at least 10 points. 

Sophomore guard Elle Blatchford also featured in a big return to form, scoring 14 points on six made field goals for the Runnin' Bulldogs. The Canton, Ga. native and Southern Miss transfer saved her best for late in the contest, getting out on the fast-break for two huge points, pushing Gardner-Webb to a 62-51 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Next up, the Runnin' Bulldogs return home from a three-game road trip too host Longwood. Tip-off is scheduled for Wednesday night, January 29th inside Paul Porter Arena.