BLACKSBURG, VA - The Gardner-Webb women's basketball team (0-4) closed a four-game, season opening road trip on Thursday night, falling to Virginia Tech (3-0)

With a pair of early threes, Gardner-Webb scored an early lead on the road. Amina Gray started the scoring for GWU with a tough bucket at 8:32, before redshirt senior guard Jaelyn Acker buried the game's first three at 8:09 for a 5-3 lead. Gardner-Webb further extended the good start with a three from freshman guard Makayla Legette to go up 8-7 at 6:02 of the first. Virginia Tech closed the first quarter with a 12-0 run to go in front 20-8.

Despite Virginia Tech opening a big lead, Gardner-Webb found good minutes in the second quarter from a couple seniors. Senior guard Nyla Walker cut through the defense for a nice layup with 8:02 to go, and Acker knocked down another three, with help from some four bounces off the rim before it fell, with 4:19 to play. Redshirt sophomore guard brought GWU back within 11 with a put-back at 53 seconds to make the score 34-23, before Virginia Tech closed again to lead 40-23 at halftime.

At the half, Gardner-Webb was led by Acker with nine points, Legette with six and junior forward Amira Ofunniyin with seven rebounds

On to the third where Gardner-Webb was quick out of the gate, with freshman guard-forward Sara Menendez knocking down her first field goal at 9:26. Ofunniyin continued to impress on the glass at the 8:11 mark, pulling down her own miss and finishing through contact for two more. Martin scored the final bucket of the third for GWU with 1:17 to go, as the Hokies led 69-40.

Gardner-Webb continued to see some good minutes out of both Ofunniyin and Walker as the game drew near to a close. The Raleigh, N.C. native Ofunniyin recorded her first 10-rebound game deep in the fourth, while later on, Walker converted on all three attempts in a single trip to the free throw line. As the game wound to its conclusion, the Runnin' Bulldogs eventually fell 87-51

LEADERS
Acker finished as the team's leading scorer, recording 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, Legette reached 10 points on a pair of made threes, and Ofunniyin posted a near double-double with seven points, 10 rebounds

INSIDE THE BOX
Gardner-Webb finished with 19 made field goals, six of which came from three and three of which came from Acker, all nine Runnin' Bulldogs players to see the floor in the contest played at least 11 minutes, with Legette playing a team-high 30 minutes.

UP NEXT
Gardner-Webb finally opens the home portion of its schedule on Sunday, November 16th at 2 pm, hosting Hampton for Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day