BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb (1-10, 1-2) women's lacrosse team fell to visiting Mercer (5-6, 2-0) by the final of 17-4 on Wednesday afternoon inside Spangler Stadium.

Mercer started fast and controlled the first half, scoring the only 10 goals of the first 30 minutes of action. Emma Duchscherer led the way for the Runnin' Bulldogs with a pair of shots on goal while Katie Westbrook also added a shot on cage, however, neither could beat the keeper.

After the Bears scored the initial four goals of the second half, Katie Westbrook put Gardner-Webb on the board with an assist from Duchscherer at the 1:44 mark of the third period.

That goal ignited a 3-0 unanswered run by the Runnin' Bulldogs as Alexa Kleinberger found Ella Grace Bishop for a quick score at the front of the net. Westbrook capped the mini run with her second of the game with another helper from Duchscherer.

However, Mercer came back with the next three goals while pushing the score out to 17-3. Duchscherer was able to put her name in the scoring column with less than two minutes to play, but that would be the last goal of the contest as Mercer earned the Big South victory.

Gardner-Webb will return to action on Wednesday, April 9 as it travels to face the Panthers of High Point University. Game time is slated for 5 p.m.