RADFORD, VA - The Gardner-Webb University women's basketball team (10-17, 7-8 Big South) ventured on the road for the final time this season on Wednesday night, dropping a narrow 80-78 contest to Radford in Big South Conference action

Gardner-Webb and Radford took the court to one of the highest scoring contests the 'Dawgs have had all season, with the two teams combining for 46 points just in the first quarter alone. Sophomore guard Lauren Bailey got the GWU offense started with a three inside the opening 30 seconds, the first of four she would hit on the night in a full 40 minutes.

Gardner-Webb closed the Radford gap to just four points at the half, as senior guard Ashley Hawkins began to get going on offense. Hawkins knocked down a pair of late layups in the quarter, including one that gave the Runnin' Bulldogs a brief 35-34 lead with 2:16 to play until halftime. Radford found the range from three to end the quarter, as the 'Dawgs trailed 39-35 at the break.

The Runnin' Bulldogs would find itself down double digits with 6:29 remaining in the third, but quickly climbed back in the game. From down 10, Gardner-Webb retook the lead with 2:47 to play, when sophomore forward Andrea Martinez found herself open for three, bringing the score to 52-51. Despite the close score, Gardner-Webb didn't lead again until freshman guard Kendall Scott gave GWU a 69-67 lead with 5:12 remaining.

Despite late buckets from Hawkins and Scott keeping Gardner-Webb in the game, Radford managed to pull just far enough away in the game's final moments, as the Runnin' Bulldogs fell by a final of 80-78.

With 25 points on the night, Hawkins surpassed 1,000 points in her third NCAA Division I season. The Long Beach, Calif. native now sits at 1,013 career points, spaced between her freshman campaign at Cal State Northridge, and the last two seasons at Gardner-Webb.

Furthermore for Gardner-Webb, Bailey finished with 12 points on four made threes, Scott pitched in with 12 on four made baskets, and graduate forward Ezle Motekaityte added 12 points, seven rebounds for the 'Dawgs.

Gardner-Webb is back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m. taking the court for Senior Day and the final game of the 2024-25 regular season. Tip-off against Presbyterian is scheduled for 1 p.m. and streaming live on ESPN Plus.