HIGH POINT, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb University women's basketball team (10-16, 7-7 Big South) trailed by 21 points early in the fourth quarter at High Point (17-11, 12-3 Big South) on Saturday afternoon and cut the Panthers lead to as few as six before ultimately falling 71-63

Gardner-Webb started slow on Saturday afternoon, falling behind 18-12 after one quarter. The Runnin' Bulldogs led briefly with three early points from senior guard Ashley Hawkins but a late HPU run allowed the visitors to build a lead as large as eight points. Sophomore guard Lauren Bailey also made her mark early in the scoring column, with a pair of made layups. High Point pulled away further in the second quarter, eventually taking a 37-22 lead into the break.

With a 54-35 lead after three quarters and a 21 point lead inside the opening minutes of the fourth, High Point seemed to be well within control. The Runnin' Bulldogs worked back into the game over the next seven and a half minutes however, getting as close as six points. Sophomore forward Andrea Martinez played her part in getting the late GWU run started, knocking down one of the six made threes by the 'Dawgs in the fourth and eight for the game.

Freshman guard Kendall Scott managed to get the Runnin' Bulldogs back within 10 with 3:35 to go, knocking down another triple in what was a second consecutive 18-point performance for the Fredericksburg, Va. native. Scott connected on two threes in a flurry in the fourth as GWU climbed back in the game.

 Graduate forward Elze Motekaityte scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds in her 32 minutes on the court on Saturday afternoon, including a pair of free throws made inside the final two minutes, bringing Gardner-Webb back within eight points.

Hawkins would finish as the leading scorer for Gardner-Webb, pouring in 26 points next to five rebounds and five assists, while joining Scott as the two Runnin' Bulldogs players to played all 40 minutes.

In the fourth quarter alone, the Runnin' Bulldogs outscored High Point 28-17, knocked down nine field goals, six from three, and shot nearly 10% than any of the previous three frames.

Gardner-Webb travels to Radford on Wednesday night, February 22nd, for the final road game of the 2024-25 season. Tip-off in the New River Valley is set for 7 p.m.