CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb women's basketball team (0-1, 0-0 Big South) opened its 2025-26 season on the road at Queens (1-0, 0-0 ASUN) on Monday night, falling by a final score of 58-47

The Runnin' Bulldogs got off to a slow start on Monday, with Queens jumping out to an 18-5 first quarter lead. Freshman Makayla Legette got the scoring started for GWU with her first collegiate bucket at 8:49 of the first quarter to briefly give Gardner-Webb a 2-1 lead. The Runnin' Bulldogs did the rest of its first quarter scoring from the free throw line, noted by a pair of free throws from senior guard Nyla Walker

Gardner-Webb got its offense going in the second quarter, sparked by a couple early threes. Off an assist by Walker, junior guard Amina Gray stepped into her first bucket of the season at 9:27, quickly followed by a first three pointer in Red and Black for redshirt senior guard Jaelyn Acker, cutting the Queens lead to 21-10 by 8:45. Junior forward Amira Ofunniyin got the Runnin' Bulldogs back within eight after a great pass from Legette at 5;54, but a 9-2 run over the remaining half saw Queens lead 32-17 at the break.

In the third quarter, Gardner-Webb put together its best stretch of offense to outscore Queens 18-16. GWU would get good contributions on the floor from all down the roster in the third, including from Acker who buried another three at 5:43, and Walker who knocked down her first triple of the season at 1:18. After three, Queens led 48-35

Gardner-Webb again outscored Queens in the fourth, this time 12-10, but was unable to mount a comeback. With under a minute to go, Legette made the final of her three steals and cashed in on a pair of free throws, finishing the game with seven points. Redshirt sophomore guard Kayla Martin made a similar play in the final seconds, finishing off a fast break with two to bring the game to a 58-47 final score

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Every Gardner-Webb player to see the court on Monday night scored at least three points, with six of the eight hitting at least two field goals, the Runnin' Bulldogs also finished with 13 steals, and 10 assists on 15 made baskets, and in the final box, GWU finished with 16 points off Queens turnovers

LEADERS
Acker finished with a team-high eight points next to four rebounds and three steals, Legette posted seven points, five rebounds and three steals, and Gray recorded seven points, two rebounds in the contest

UP NEXT
The Runnin' Bulldogs make a quick stop in Georgia over the weekend, on the road at West Georgia on Saturday, November 8th and at Mercer on Monday, November 10th