HIGH POINT, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb women's basketball team (6-15, 3-4 Big South) hung close early, before a 73-44 loss at High Point (18-2, 7-0 Big South)

The Runnin' Bulldogs hung tight with conference unbeaten High Point early on Friday night, down just 17-14 after one. It would be a 21-4 difference in the second quarter that made most of the difference however as Gardner-Webb eventually fell 73-44

Back on the floor in a big way, junior forward Amira Ofunniyin helped pace GWU early with a pair of big buckets. The Maryland Eastern Shore transfer finished off perhaps her best game in a Gardner-Webb jersey, posting 14 points, five rebounds, and going 7-of-9 from the floor

The largest lead of the game for Gardner-Webb was four late in the first, when junior guard Anaya Harris nailed a short jumper to put GWU in front 12-8. Harris, back in The Triangle, finished the game with six points, eight rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal

Among the Gardner-Webb players, freshman forward Sara Menendez finished another solid conference game. Following 15-point performance against USC Upstate a couple weeks ago, Menendez scored five points in nine minutes on Friday night, connecting on both shots from the floor. Freshman guard Makayla Legette meanwhile filled the stat sheet with four points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals in 30 minutes

Overall, the Runnin' Bulldogs posted a solid shooting night despite struggling in the second quarter. Gardner-Webb shot 6-of-13 in the first, 7-of-17 in the third, and 5-of-14 in the fourth, but just 1-of-8 in the second where High Point took its big lead for good. In full, GWU finished at 36.5% from the field, posted 32 points in the paint, 26 bench points, and 14 points off turnovers

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The Runnin' Bulldogs return home on Wednesday night, January 28th at 7 pm to take on Longwood in another crucial Big South game