CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb women's basketball team opens its 2025-26 season and a new era under head coach Terri Williams on Monday night, as the Runnin' Bulldogs visit Queens

GAME INFORMATION
Game 1: Gardner-Webb at Queens
Location: Curry Arena - Charlotte, N.C.
Stream: ESPN Plus
Tip-Off: 7:00 pm
Series History: Queens leads 2-0
Previous Meeting: Queens 99, Gardner-Webb 97 - December 2024

GARDNER-WEBB NOTES

• Gardner-Webb begins a new era under head coach Terri Williams, a 30-year veteran with 17 years of experience as a Division I coach. Williams was previously with the likes of Auburn and Georgetown, and with a stop back at her alma mater Penn State as the associate head coach, where Williams played from 1988 to 1991
• Gardner-Webb returns five players for 2025-26, including redshirt sophomore guard Kayla Martin, junior guard Amina Gray, senior guard Nyla Walker, sophomore forward Regina Yanez-Enriquez and former Big South Conference Freshman of The Year, junior guard Anaya Harris
• Walker is the leading returner for Gardner-Webb among nearly every statistical category from a season ago, playing in 28 games, starting 5 of them, and averaging 4.2 points per game during the 2024-25 campaign
• The Runnin' Bulldogs welcome seven newcomers for the 2025-26 season, including five freshman and two transfers. The transfers are redshirt senior guard Jaelyn Acker arriving from Furman, and junior forward Amira Ofunniyin who lands in Boiling Springs from Maryland Eastern Shore
• Acker, hailing from Richfield, Wisconsin is a former Southern Conference All-Freshman player who averaged 11.5 points per game during her debut season in college basketball while shooting above 30% from three
• Ofunniyin, back in her home state of North Carolina, is a former MEAC All-Academic team selection and was third on the Maryland Eastern Shore roster with seven blocks last season. The junior forward spent her prep career at Panther Creek High School in Cary, N.C.
• In a big freshman class for Gardner-Webb is freshman guard Makayla Legette arrives from Latta, S.C. after a stellar high school career which saw her average 22.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 3.8 steals on her way to an all-state selection as a sophomore and an SC Now State Preseason Player of The Year award
• The Runnin' Bulldogs also feature a handful of international talent in the freshman class, with freshman guard Rafferty Powell from Christchurch, New Zealand, freshman forward Sara Menendez from Valencia Spain, and freshman forward Kamille Henriksen from Frederiksberg, Denmark
• Following tonight's game at Queens, Gardner-Webb will continue a four-game road trip to open the 2025-26 season, visiting West Georgia on November 8th, Mercer on November 10th, and Virginia Tech on November 13th
• The Runnin' Bulldogs home opener is scheduled for November 16th against Hampton, ahead of a second home game against UNC Wilmington on November 19th inside Paul Porter Arena